The suicide rate among veterans increased from 2020 to 2021 by 11.6%, while the rate among nonveteran U.S. adults for the same time period increased by 4.5%, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Suicide was the second-leading cause of death among veterans under age 45, the VA stated its 2023 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report,

One factor is that veterans suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder at a higher rate than civilians, according to the VA. PTSD is a mental health condition some people develop after witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event.

Although the overall incidence of PTSD is not much higher for all veterans (7%) as compared to all adults (6%), the figures are higher for those deployed to war zones: 29% of veterans of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom and 21% of Persian Gulf War veterans have experienced PTSD at some point during their lives, the department reported.

Women veterans are more likely than male veterans to be diagnosed with PTSD, according to the report, which showed 13% of all female veterans, without regard to deployment status, were diagnosed as compared to 6% of male veterans.

Chris Noullet, a clinical psychologist and recovery coordinator at the VA Butler Healthcare, said he sees symptoms of PTSD among many of his patients.

“We treat a lot of trauma, a lot of PTSD among our veterans,” he said. “Quite a large proportion of our population has faced some trauma, and there are traumas related to military service that are common.”

But traumatic events such as the July 13 attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump at the Butler Farm Show grounds also can trigger symptoms of PTSD, he said.

“Certainly an event in a local community that is violent or results in the loss of life, absolutely that is a likely trigger for PTSD,” Noullet said. “The fact that in that specific event the violence is carried out by use of firearm can be another trigger for PTSD in veterans.”

However, being at the rally could potentially lead to PTSD symptoms in other individuals, he said.

“That was certainly a life-threatening situation,” Noullet said, “and witnessing loss of life and serious injury could be sufficient exposure to trauma that can lead to PTSD.”

Individuals should pay attention to their reactions to a tragic event, Noullet said.

“Some folks might notice feelings of shock, maybe some disbelief,” he said. “They might notice that their sleep is disrupted. They might notice a feeling of heightened alertness and temporary changes in their mood. They might feel anxious or numb. They might experience difficulty concentrating and the tendency to withdraw socially. Those are some of the things they’d want to pay attention to.”

If symptoms persist longer than a few weeks or if individuals are concerned, Noullet said, they should reach out to a health care provider who can offer support through treatment or mental health services.

The Veterans Association of Butler County offers mental health services for veterans, including evidence-based therapy that can help treat PTSD.

With complex risk factors such as PTSD, addiction and homelessness affecting veterans, communities and community organizations will be important collaborators in ending veteran suicide, the VA said in its report.

To learn more about how common PTSD is in veterans from the Department of Veterans Affairs, please visit www.ptsd.va.gov/understand/common/common_veterans.asp.

To learn more about PTSD, please visit the National Center for PTSD through the Department of Veterans Affairs. Their website can be found at www.ptsd.va.gov/index.asp.

To learn more about the Veterans Association of Butler County, please visit www.va.gov/butler-health-care.

To contact the PTSD Information Voicemail, please dial 802-296-6300. In the case of a veteran mental health emergency, please dial 988 and press 1. To learn about the Veterans Crisis Line or to contact someone, please visit their website.