Report Paints Grim Picture of Suicide Rate Among Nevada Veterans

Report Paints Grim Picture of Suicide Rate Among Nevada Veterans
MAR 09, 2012
By Steve Kanigher, I-Team Reporter
By Joe Bartels, Reporter
By Mark Zamora, Photojournalist

LAS VEGAS -- A new state study found that Nevada's suicide rate, which traditionally ranks among the nation's top five, is particularly acute among military veterans.

The Nevada Department of Health and Human Services reported that from 2008 through 2010, Nevada veterans committed suicide at a rate of 46 per 100,000 residents, compared to the state's suicide rate of 19 per 100,000 and the national rate of 12 per 100,000. That means the suicide rate among Nevada veterans was 2.5 times the state rate and nearly quadruple the national rate.

"Committing suicide, we don't know, even as parents, we don't know the horrors they see over there. We don't know what's going through their minds," said Marina Vance, who is with Blue Star Moms. The organization helps families through the loss of their service member. "Some of them, when they are ready, they will talk to us, they will call us and say they are ready but it's very hard," Vance said.
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