You Are Not Alone: Supporting Women Veterans Through Suicide Prevention
September is Suicide Prevention Month — a time to remember that reaching out can save a life, asking for help is a sign of strength, and no Veteran should have to face difficult moments alone.
For women who have served in the U.S. military, the transition from service to civilian life can come with unique challenges. Some may be visible, while others remain hidden behind a successful career, family responsibilities, friendships, or the everyday demands of life.
Mental health deserves the same attention and care as physical health. During Suicide Prevention Month, the Women Veterans Health and Wellness Foundation (VHWF) encourages women Veterans, their families, friends, caregivers, and communities to have honest conversations about emotional well-being—and to know where to turn when support is needed.
Why This Conversation Matters
Women Veterans are a growing and important part of the Veteran community, and their experiences are not always the same as those of their male counterparts.
Military service can bring strength, purpose, resilience, and a strong sense of community. But service can also involve experiences that continue to affect a person long after leaving the military.
Women Veterans may face challenges involving:
Transitioning from military to civilian life
Post-traumatic stress and other effects of trauma
Military sexual trauma (MST)
Depression or anxiety
Sleep difficulties
Chronic pain or other health concerns
Relationship or family challenges
Financial or employment difficulties
Feelings of isolation or loss of connection
Adjusting to changes in identity and purpose after service
The VA identifies several of these experiences—including readjustment difficulties, PTSD, military sexual trauma, sleep problems, and physical injury—as challenges that may affect suicide risk among women Veterans.
These experiences do not mean someone will experience suicidal thoughts. They do, however, remind us why accessible, compassionate mental health support matters.
The Numbers Tell Us We Need to Keep Talking
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' latest National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report, there were 6,398 Veteran suicide deaths in 2023.
The report also found that the age-adjusted suicide rate among female Veterans was 13.9 per 100,000 in 2023, compared with 37.8 per 100,000 among male Veterans. Importantly, the age-adjusted suicide rate for female Veterans was 103.1% higher than the rate for female non-Veteran U.S. adults.
Behind every statistic is a person—a Veteran, daughter, mother, sister, partner, friend, colleague, or member of a community.
That is why prevention cannot only happen during September. It requires continued awareness, connection, early support, and making it easier for Veterans to ask for help throughout the year.
What Does Suicide Prevention Look Like?
Suicide prevention isn't always about knowing exactly what to say.
Sometimes, it begins with simply noticing that someone may be struggling.
You might notice that a friend or loved one:
Has become unusually withdrawn or isolated
Seems overwhelmed or hopeless
Is experiencing major changes in mood or behavior
Has stopped participating in activities they previously enjoyed
Is struggling with sleep, relationships, work, or daily responsibilities
Says they feel like a burden or that others would be better without them
Talks about death, suicide, or feeling that there is no way forward
These signs should not be ignored.
If you are concerned about someone, you don't need to have all the answers. You can start with a simple conversation:
“I've noticed you've been going through a lot lately. How are you really doing?”
Listen without judgment. Let them know that they don't have to handle everything alone. And if you believe they may be in immediate danger, seek professional or emergency support.
Asking for Help Is Not a Weakness
Many Veterans have spent years being trained to stay calm under pressure, solve problems, and look after the people around them.
That strength can sometimes make it difficult to admit when you need support.
But reaching out is not a failure.
Mental health is part of overall health. Just as you would seek medical attention for a physical injury, emotional and psychological struggles deserve professional care too.
The VA offers mental health services for Veterans dealing with PTSD, depression, anxiety, grief, military sexual trauma, and other mental health concerns. Some services may also be available even if a Veteran is not enrolled in VA health care.
If You're Struggling Right Now
If you are a Veteran experiencing a mental health crisis or thoughts of suicide, you don't have to figure it out alone.
Veterans Crisis Line
The Veterans Crisis Line provides free, confidential, 24/7 support for Veterans and people concerned about a Veteran.
then press 1
You can also:
Text: 838255
Chat online: Veterans Crisis Line
TTY: 1-800-799-4889
You do not have to be enrolled in VA health care to use the Veterans Crisis Line.
Women Veterans Call Center
Women Veterans can also contact the Women Veterans Call Center (WVCC) for help navigating VA health care, benefits, and available services.
The WVCC can help women Veterans connect with local resources and services, including VA medical centers and women's health contacts.
VA Mental Health Resources
The VA provides mental health resources covering PTSD, depression, anxiety, grief, military sexual trauma, and other concerns.
PTSD Resources
For Veterans experiencing trauma-related symptoms, the VA's National Center for PTSD provides information about PTSD, treatment options, self-help resources, and finding professional care.
If You're Worried About Another Veteran
You don't have to wait until you know exactly what is happening.
Reach out.
Ask how they are doing. Listen. Stay connected. Encourage them to speak with a mental health professional or connect with Veteran-specific resources.
If you believe someone is in immediate danger, contact 911, go to the nearest emergency room, or contact the Veterans Crisis Line by calling 988 and pressing 1.
Your willingness to start a conversation could be more important than having the perfect words.
Connection Can Be Part of Prevention
For many Veterans, connection is powerful.
Connection can mean talking with another Veteran who understands your experiences. It can mean reconnecting with family, joining a community organization, speaking with a trusted friend, attending an appointment, or simply allowing someone to sit with you during a difficult day.
You don't have to wait until things become overwhelming before reaching out.
Small steps count.
Send the message. Make the call. Attend the appointment. Ask the question.
And if someone reaches out to you, take a moment to listen.
This September—and Beyond
Suicide Prevention Month gives us an opportunity to start conversations that should continue all year.
For women Veterans, taking care of mental health is not separate from wellness. It is part of wellness.
At the Women Veterans Health and Wellness Foundation, we believe that Veterans deserve access to information, resources, community, and support throughout every stage of their lives.
If you are struggling, please reach out.
If someone you know is struggling, check in.
And if you're doing well, consider being the person who makes it easier for someone else to ask for help.
You served. You matter. Your health matters. And you don't have to face difficult moments alone.
Need Help Now?
Veterans Crisis Line:
Women Veterans Call Center:
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
Suicide prevention starts with conversations—and your voice can help make those conversations easier for someone else.
Have a thought, experience, or message of encouragement to share? Leave a comment below and join the conversation. Your words may remind another woman Veteran that she is not alone.
💬 Share your thoughts. Support one another. Keep the conversation going.
Please remember: The comment section is not an emergency support service. If you or someone you know needs immediate help, call or text 988 and press 1 to reach the Veterans Crisis Line.
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