Which subgroup of veterans has the highest rates of suicide?

• A. Non-deployed veterans.
• B. Deployed veterans.
• C. Veterans in combat roles only.
• D. All veterans have similar rates.

Answer: (A)

Key idea: suicide risk among veterans is not uniform across groups; some subgroups face higher risk because of the combination of life after service and access to supports.

Non-deployed veterans can be at the highest risk because，他们 often face civilian-life challenges without the protective structure and ongoing support that deployment and military life can provide. Factors like unemployment or underemployment, housing instability, social isolation, and existing mental health conditions that may not have been fully addressed during service can accumulate after leaving the military. Additionally, there can be barriers to accessing care or less engagement with programs that specifically reach deployed veterans, leaving these individuals with fewer protective resources. While deployment and combat exposure are important risk factors for trauma-related symptoms, the overall pattern observed in some research shows non-deployed veterans experiencing higher suicide rates, reflecting how civilian reintegration realities and access to care influence risk. The statement that all veterans have similar rates doesn't fit with the observed variation across subgroups.