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Service Dogs & Veteran Support

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The Stark Reality: Veteran Suicide Statistics and How We Can Help

Veterans are heroes who've given so much for our country. But when they return home, many face tough challenges. One of the most heartbreaking is the high rate of suicide among Veterans.

Using data from trusted sources like the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Mental Health, we want to shed light on the issue and show how Service Dogs can play a key role in helping.

Current Statistics: 

  • In 2021, it was reported that 30,177 active duty members and Veterans who served after 9/11 had died by suicide.

    • This number is far higher than the 7,057 service members killed in combat during the same 20 years.

    • Military suicides are four times greater than combat deaths (USO, 2021).

  • The Department of Veterans Affairs reports that 17 Veterans take their own lives each day—adding up to over 6,200 suicides each year.

 

These are not just statistics; they are real people who have faced the challenges of service, both in combat and beyond struggling with what comes after. We need to act now to address these mental health challenges and support all Veterans with service-related disabilities as they transition back to civilian life.

 

Service Dogs: More Than Companions

  • Emotional Support: Service Dogs provide vital emotional and physical support for Veterans with PTSD.

    • They help during moments of anxiety, night terrors, or when navigating crowded places.

 

  • Physical Assistance: Service Dogs also help Veterans with physical disabilities by assisting with:

    • Opening doors

    • Retrieving items

    • Turning on lights

    • Pushing buttons to open doors

    • Providing balance for standing

    • Helping pull a wheelchair

The Department of Mental Health has updated rules to ensure Veterans can access these helpful companions more easily.

Join the Cause: Support Retrieving Freedom, Inc.

The benefits of Service Dogs are clear, but training them and matching them with Veterans takes significant resources. At Retrieving Freedom, Inc., we're committed to making sure every Veteran in need has a well-trained Service Dog at their side—at no cost to them. But we can't do it alone; we need your help.

  • Donate Today: Your support can make a real difference in a Veteran's life.

    • Provide not just a companion, but hope for a brighter future.

Photo of diverse hands holding onto a rope, pulling together, representing the collective effort to support and uplift Veterans.

Join us in this mission and help fight Veteran suicide. Donate today.

References:

  • USO. (2021). Military suicide rates are at an all-time high: Here's how we're trying to help. Retrieved from USO Story

  • Department of Veterans Affairs. (2022). 2022 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report. Retrieved from VA Report

 

 

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