Younger Veterans at Greater Suicide Risk

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Similarly, the study found that depressed veterans with any physical disability were also at lowered risk for suicide -- possibly because they, too, saw doctors more often.

Other risk factors for suicide mirrored those seen in the general population. Veterans struggling with depression were much more likely to kill themselves if they were also battling substance abuse, the study found. Depressed male veterans were about three times as likely to kill themselves compared to females, and whites were at higher risk than blacks or Hispanics.

Due to a lack of data, the study was not able to assess the impact of specific military activity, such as active combat, on risks for depression and suicide.

The real challenge, experts agreed, is to make sure that all veterans struggling with depression get the care they need.

Certain VA centers "are beginning to set up what's called a Suicide Attempts Registry so that they can follow veterans who are at higher risk," said Gregory K. Brown, a specialist in these issues.

"I think having registries that follow up on high-risk veterans is one of the ways to go," said Brown, a research associate professor in the department of psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania.

The VA has also set up a special suicide hotline specifically aimed at veterans, accessed toll-free at 1-800-273-TALK.

Still, some improvements could be made, Brown added.

"While the VA have both mental health programs set up and substance abuse programs, they need to have ways of merging the two programs so that veterans who have both disorders get [coordinated] treatment," he said.

A veteran's family and friends can help, too.

"Families should take any comments about suicide or 'life is not worth living' seriously," Brown said. "They shouldn't pass it off as just somebody being upset."

Zivin agreed.

"The key thing is to talk to people," she said. "It's hard to know without conversation what someone is thinking."

More information

For more about suicide and depression, visit the American Association of Suicidology.