Posted on Jun 19, 2025
VA Research Wrap Up: New findings on suicide risk and dementia - VA News
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This week, VA’s Office of Research and Development published three News Briefs highlighting research advances in understanding Veterans’ suicide risk and dementia.
Physical activity reduces suicide risk
VA researchers from Durham, Salt Lake City and Connecticut found that Veterans who were engaged in higher physical activity had lower odds of suicidal ideations and less risk for suicidal behavior.
Veterans without honorable discharge have more suicide risk
VA researchers from Seattle and Canandaigua, New York, showed that Veterans who did not receive an honorable discharge from service were more than twice as likely to die from suicide within five years of discharge as Veterans who were honorably discharged.
Incidences of dementia can vary by region
San Francisco VA researchers discovered that dementia risk in older Veterans varies by region across the country. The Mid-Atlantic region of Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, New Jersey and Washington, D.C., had the lowest incidences of dementia. In contrast, the Southeast states of Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi had the highest.
Physical activity reduces suicide risk
VA researchers from Durham, Salt Lake City and Connecticut found that Veterans who were engaged in higher physical activity had lower odds of suicidal ideations and less risk for suicidal behavior.
Veterans without honorable discharge have more suicide risk
VA researchers from Seattle and Canandaigua, New York, showed that Veterans who did not receive an honorable discharge from service were more than twice as likely to die from suicide within five years of discharge as Veterans who were honorably discharged.
Incidences of dementia can vary by region
San Francisco VA researchers discovered that dementia risk in older Veterans varies by region across the country. The Mid-Atlantic region of Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, New Jersey and Washington, D.C., had the lowest incidences of dementia. In contrast, the Southeast states of Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi had the highest.
VA Research Wrap Up: New findings on suicide risk and dementia - VA News
Posted from news.va.gov
Research
Suicide
Mental Health
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Medical
Posted 8 mo ago
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The link between physical activity and reduced suicide risk has been studied since at least the 1990s. Early research, like a 1996 study in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, noted exercise's positive effects on mental health, including depression, which is a major suicide risk factor. By the 2000s, studies began directly exploring exercise as a protective factor against suicidal ideation and attempts, with meta-analyses (e.g., 2018 in Frontiers in Psychiatry) confirming consistent associations. So, roughly 30 years of research support this connection, with stronger evidence accumulating over time.
There is growing research exploring the potential benefits of physical activity for mental health and suicide prevention. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR), being primarily a diagnostic manual, does not contain information specifically stating that physical activity reduces suicides.
Newer research includes Reduced Suicidal Ideation and Self-Harm: Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) programs, which more often include K9s, have shown promising results in reducing suicidal ideation and non-suicidal self-harm.
Lt Col Charlie Brown LTC Marc King Maj Robert Thornton
There is growing research exploring the potential benefits of physical activity for mental health and suicide prevention. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR), being primarily a diagnostic manual, does not contain information specifically stating that physical activity reduces suicides.
Newer research includes Reduced Suicidal Ideation and Self-Harm: Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) programs, which more often include K9s, have shown promising results in reducing suicidal ideation and non-suicidal self-harm.
Lt Col Charlie Brown LTC Marc King Maj Robert Thornton
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Lt Col Charlie Brown
Exercise certainly helps with depression which also helps lower the risk of suicide
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The suicide rate for those with a less than honorable discharge is surprising. I would think they hadn't cared when they worked towards the discharge they got, why would they let it affect them later in life? Guilty conscience?
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LTC Trent Klug
Sgt David Ray Could be.
One of the guys I served with got a general under less than honorable conditions for drug usage. He's struggled with sobriety since the early 90's. He's requesting an upgrade to his discharge.
I wrote a letter of support for him to submit with his packet. Its a long process but he's made great strides with his life and is on track. I hope he's taken care of properly.
One of the guys I served with got a general under less than honorable conditions for drug usage. He's struggled with sobriety since the early 90's. He's requesting an upgrade to his discharge.
I wrote a letter of support for him to submit with his packet. Its a long process but he's made great strides with his life and is on track. I hope he's taken care of properly.
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SGM Jeff Mccloud
Sgt David Ray - This.
As easy as it is to ignore and walk away from the Soldier heading towards that other than honorable, often that discharge is coming as just the first of many bad results of a deeper underlying problem. And the way we treat/ignore them on the way to that discharge hardly points them in the "get help" direction.
A few years ago, my BC and I delved into the case of a PFC who tested positive for drugs. When he first showed up, he was a likable guy, and learned the job fast. Then he got sullen, withdrawn, less dependable.
He didn't have a drug problem, he had a family problem, a bad one.
Drugs were just his wrong answer to deal with it.
but we stepped in early enough, and he was young enough and smart enough to see the possible light at the end of the tunnel. He got with the chaplain, he got with more help.
The BC wrote up the recommendation to retain, six months later this guy was now the "life of the party" in the dismal motor pool, in both work ethic and just charisma, and things were already starting to get better at home.
He just needed to see that someone could believe in him when he couldn't, to get started.
They aren't all that easy, but they all require those first steps to get back in the right direction.
As easy as it is to ignore and walk away from the Soldier heading towards that other than honorable, often that discharge is coming as just the first of many bad results of a deeper underlying problem. And the way we treat/ignore them on the way to that discharge hardly points them in the "get help" direction.
A few years ago, my BC and I delved into the case of a PFC who tested positive for drugs. When he first showed up, he was a likable guy, and learned the job fast. Then he got sullen, withdrawn, less dependable.
He didn't have a drug problem, he had a family problem, a bad one.
Drugs were just his wrong answer to deal with it.
but we stepped in early enough, and he was young enough and smart enough to see the possible light at the end of the tunnel. He got with the chaplain, he got with more help.
The BC wrote up the recommendation to retain, six months later this guy was now the "life of the party" in the dismal motor pool, in both work ethic and just charisma, and things were already starting to get better at home.
He just needed to see that someone could believe in him when he couldn't, to get started.
They aren't all that easy, but they all require those first steps to get back in the right direction.
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Lt Col Charlie Brown
They find out that they are not entitled to all sorts of benefits and sometimes are disqualified for civilian jobs.
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