Before reading more about suicidal thoughts among veterans and how certain therapies can help, please contact emergency services immediately if you or someone you know may be struggling with suicidal desires.
History tells us that the U.S. saw high rates of veteran suicide as the Vietnam War was ending. The country saw spikes in suicide rates among the veteran population again after many soldiers were deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. And in general, military suicide prevention intervention (MSPIRE) and public health research have shown that American military personnel, both active and retired, have suffered higher rates of suicide than civilians.
In 2022, more than 1,300 veterans committed suicide in the midwestern region of the United States, with 136 of those deaths taking place in Wisconsin. Luckily, current suicide rates among veterans are on the decline, but we want all of our readers to know that we’re here to support veterans with effective treatment options in Middleton and Waukesha, regardless, even when someone is battling suicidal thoughts in addition to other mental health conditions.
This article can help you unpack the cause of suicidal thoughts in veterans, how cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help, and where you can go to get it.
What Causes Suicidal Thoughts in Veterans?
No one factor causes suicidal thoughts—also referred to as suicidal ideation—or suicide. Many individual, relationship, community, and societal risk factors are at play when suicide occurs. For the general population, those factors can include experiencing or perpetrating violence, loss of relationships, chronic illness or pain, and social isolation—just to name a few.
The thing is: Veterans don’t automatically experience traumatic events when they enter the military, but the nature of their work can put them at greater risk for different types of hardships, from poor mental and physical health to financial and substance issues.
Here are some of the many reasons veterans can be at risk for committing suicide:
- Aging: Getting older can come with saddening emotional side effects, potentially contributing to high rates of suicide for people over 65. Feeling socially isolated can be common among older folks. Physical impairments associated with aging, like decreased mobility, reduced strength, and poorer eyesight, can prevent travel and driving, which can be demoralizing.
- Poverty: Veterans currently face poverty less often than the general population, but when they do, they are more likely to face homelessness. According to research from 2018, people experiencing homelessness were estimated to be around 9% more likely to commit suicide.
- Chronic health conditions: The most common chronic health issues that veterans deal with include chronic pain, sleeping disorders, and complications triggered by exposure to toxic environments, contaminated water, or burn pits—and sometimes these problems don’t develop until years later. When you’re dealing with chronic pain for years on end, it can take a huge emotional toll.
- Mental health disorders: From combat experience to being separated from family and friends for months on end, to the stress of returning to civilian life, veterans are at higher risk for developing anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and substance use disorder (SUD).
- Substance use disorders: Veterans can absorb a lot of trauma due to their line of work, so they may develop dependency on substances—particularly alcohol—at higher rates than civilians. Unfortunately, substance use disorder (SUD) raises your risk for committing suicide.
What Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?
According to Mayo Clinic, CBT is a common form of talk therapy designed to help change negative thought patterns and beliefs and study how those beliefs influence thoughts, feelings, and actions.
CBT is particularly effective for helping to improve symptoms of depression, anxiety, PTSD, problems sleeping, SUD, and other mental health disorders—making it a great supplemental step in any veteran’s healing journey. Not only does it involve changing how your brain frames the world around you—and you within it—but it also encourages new, positive behaviors.
CBT can be challenging for anyone who undertakes it, but it can be particularly difficult for veterans because it:
- May force them to confront traumatic memories head-on
- Might make them feel invalidated, since CBT focuses on rational thinking rather than emotional thinking
- Could temporarily exacerbate anxiety or depression symptoms initially
However, the good news is that CBT’s negative effects are usually temporary, and the positive ones eventually kick in.
Does CBT Actually Help Veterans?
At least one clinical trial from 2025 confirms that it does. Even short stints—brief cognitive behavioral therapy (BCBT)—just 4-8 sessions (normal CBT timelines can span up to 20 sessions) have proven effective in helping military service members decide against suicide more often and reduce suicidal thoughts.
Receive Support For Suicidal Thoughts in Wisconsin
You deserve to live a life that fulfills you and brings you joy, even in the face of hardship. We want to help you build that life. Contact our care teams today to learn where you can access CBT and find support.
