Financial Stress and Veteran Suicide Risk: New Study

September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, a time to recognize the many factors that can influence mental health, including financial stress.

A July 2026 study published in JAMA Network Open, “Financial Stressors and Suicide,” found that financial stressors such as delinquent mortgage payments, late credit card payments, repossessions, and declining credit scores were associated with higher odds of suicide among U.S. Veterans.

In the study of 17,439 Veterans, those with three or more financial stressors had 2.4 times the odds of suicide compared with those with none.

Recognizing these financial stressors and accessing support early can help improve financial well-being and overall mental health.

If you or someone you know is struggling, support is available. The Veterans Crisis Line can be reached by dialing 988 and pressing 1, texting 838255, or visiting VeteransCrisisLine.net.

Veterans and military families can access free financial education, budgeting tools, and financial wellness resources at usaaef.org, including military support resources, to help strengthen long-term financial resilience.

Together, we can build greater financial resilience and help connect Veterans and military families with the support they need.