The Crisis Among Veterans

• 17.6 veterans die by suicide every day, according to the VA's 2022 data—averaging 6,407 veteran deaths over the year.

• While the VA reports this figure, independent studies suggest the number could be 40–44 veteran suicides per day, once uncounted overdoses and rural reporting gaps are factored in.

• Veteran suicide rates are more than double that of the general U.S. adult population: 34.7 vs. 17.1 per 100,000.

First Responders: Heroes at Risk

• EMS providers are 1.39× as likely to die by suicide compared to the general public .

• Law enforcement officers and firefighters die by suicide more often than in the line of duty, with police suicide risk 54% higher than civilians.

• Approximately 37% of first responders have seriously contemplated suicide—10× the rate of the general population.

PTSD & Depression Among the Frontline

• PTSD affects an estimated 15% of paramedics, 13% of rescue workers, and 7% of firefighters, compared to roughly 5% among police officers.

• Emergency personnel (fire and EMS) report a 6.8% depression rate, with up to 46.8% experiencing suicidal ideation and 15.5% attempting suicide..

• After events like 9/11, over 17% of EMS workers showed clinical signs of depression and 7% had PTSD.

Why ValorAid’s Mission Is So Urgent

These are not distant stats, they are the real experiences of people we rely on to keep us safe. Veterans, firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, and law enforcement officers carry unimaginable trauma and mental strain. When support is inaccessible, inadequate, or out of touch with their lived reality, suffering deepens.

ValorAid fills this gap with:

• Immediate access, not waitlists.

• Peer-led, trauma-informed care, not one‑size‑fits‑all solutions.

• AI‑enhanced tools grounded in Psychological First Aid, not superficial wellness checklists.

The reality is urgent. The people who save lives, our lives, deserve better care before they reach a breaking point.