For too many veterans, the most dangerous period begins after military service is over. The shift into civilian life can bring a sudden loss of structure, identity, routine, and community.

Research from RAND shows veterans continue to die by suicide at far higher rates than nonveterans, and some of the highest risk appears during the period after separation. In 2022, 6,407 veterans died by suicide. That is not a private struggle affecting only a few families. It is a public crisis that continues year after year.

Families often see warning signs before institutions do.

The Transition To Civilian Life Can Deepen Isolation

Leaving the military often means more than changing jobs. It can mean losing a close social network, a defined mission, and a familiar identity all at once. A review published in Public Health Reports describes how veteran suicide risk is shaped by mental health conditions, substance use, trauma exposure, and gaps in care.

Another overview in RAND Health Quarterly points to missed chances to identify risk early and reach veterans outside formal systems. This is one reason transition support cannot stop at discharge paperwork.

The transition out of military service can sharply increase risk.

Families Need Tools Before A Crisis Takes Hold

Loved ones are often the first people to notice that something has changed. They may see withdrawal, hopelessness, anger, disrupted sleep, heavy drinking, or a growing sense that the veteran no longer feels connected. Yet many families receive little practical training for the realities of reintegration.

Stop Soldier Suicide warns that veterans who struggle with the move into civilian life are far more likely to experience suicidal thoughts, and that the first year after service can be especially dangerous. Families should never be left to guess what signs matter or where to turn for immediate help.

Suicide remains a major cause of death among veterans.

Prevention Must Reach Veterans Earlier

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs says suicide prevention must involve relatives, friends, caregivers, community members, and health care providers. The VA also emphasizes that support is available even for veterans who are not enrolled in VA health care, including the Veterans Crisis Line at 988 then Press 1. That whole-community model is important because many veterans who die by suicide were not recently connected to VA care. Waiting for someone to ask for help on their own can mean waiting too long.

Loved ones should not be left to navigate this alone.

Mandatory Transition Training Could Help Save Lives

The Department of Defense should work with the Department of Veterans Affairs to require real transition training for every separating service member and their family. That training should cover warning signs, mental health risk, relationship stress, financial strain, employment challenges, and fast routes into support. It should not end on the day a veteran leaves the military. It should continue through the first year of civilian life, when the danger can remain high.

Veterans gave years of service to this country. They and their families deserve better preparation, better protection, and better odds of making it through the transition alive. Sign the petition and call for action.