Overview:

The crisis is undeniable. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) reports that since the 1990s, Black and Brown veterans have experienced elevated rates of PTSD. In fact, they're 2.5 times more likely to die by suicide in their first year post-service compared to active-duty service members, according to the Government Accountability Office (GAO).

The Hidden Wounds of Service

For many veterans, including our neighbors here in South Dallas, the end of military service does not mean the end of struggle. Depression, PTSD, substance abuse disorders, musculoskeletal injuries, and long-term exposure to hazardous materials often follow them home. Some of these injuries are visible; others—like PTSD and depression—remain silent but devastating.

Depending on the branch and the nature of their service, veterans can have vastly different health outcomes. What remains consistent is the inequity in how care is delivered, especially for veterans of color and women.

While civilians often present a clearer picture of their pain and treatment needs, veterans’ health concerns can be deeply entangled with trauma, stigma, and a military culture that prizes stoicism.

Numbers Don’t Lie

The crisis is undeniable. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) reports that since the 1990s, Black and Brown veterans have experienced elevated rates of PTSD compared to white counterparts. The toll is staggering:

  • In 2021, nearly 18 veterans died by suicide every day, according to the National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report.
  • Veterans are 2.5 times more likely to die by suicide in their first year post-service compared to active-duty service members, according to the Government Accountability Office (GAO).
  • The American Heart Association (2024) found that Black veterans with preexisting PTSD were significantly more likely to be readmitted to the hospital after a stroke than white veterans.
In 2022, the unadjusted suicide rate for Veterans was 34.7 per 100,000. It was 13.5 per 100,000 for female Veterans and 37.3 per 100,000 for male Veterans. Among non-Veteran U.S. adults, the suicide rate in 2022 was 17.1 per 100,000, and it was 7.2 per 100,000 for female non-Veteran adults and 28.7 per 100,000 among male non-Veteran adults. Credit: Mentalhealth.VA.gov

These numbers aren’t abstractions—they reflect neighbors, family members, and friends here in vibrant communities across the state, many of whom return from service only to find new battles waiting for them at home.

Flawed Screenings, Missed Opportunities

One of the most critical tools for helping veterans transition back into civilian life is the Separation Health Assessment (SHA), designed to screen for depression, suicide risk, alcohol use, PTSD, and violence risk.

But according to GAO’s Director of Health Care, Alyssa Hundrup, these screenings are not being implemented consistently. “Right now, only the VA has fully rolled out the SHA,” she explains. “The Department of Defense is still piloting its program, which means thousands of separating service members are not being screened for mental health risks as required.”

Alyssa Hundrup is a Director in the Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) Health Care team. Credit: GAO

Hundrup notes that of the five screening tools, only two—depression and suicide risk—are validated and reliable. Others, such as those for alcohol use and PTSD, have been modified in ways that experts warn could reduce effectiveness. “It’s especially important that these screenings be done right,” she emphasizes. “With veterans facing heightened risks, validated tools are essential to identifying those who need care.”

For South Dallas veterans, this gap translates into missed chances to detect mental health crises before they spiral into tragedy.

South Dallas Veterans on the Margins

Local veteran support groups stress that minority veterans—particularly Black, Latino, and women veterans—face the steepest inequities. The stigma around mental health, compounded by mistrust of the VA, often prevents veterans from accessing available resources.

A 2014 study by Bagalman found that 60% of veterans opted out of VA care entirely, seeking treatment elsewhere or not at all. And more recent studies show that traditional psychosocial supports are not enough.

“Engagement and context are key,” argues a 2023 review by Edwards and colleagues. Veterans often struggle with identity, reintegration, and the hollow recognition of the “thank you for your service” ritual. Without tailored engagement and trust-building, many veterans disengage from care entirely.

More Than Words: Building Real Equity

More than 150 years ago, President Lincoln called on the nation to “care for him who shall have borne the battle.” Yet the South Dallas veteran community—particularly veterans of color—remains underserved and overlooked.

If health equity means addressing not just the symptoms but the structural barriers to care, then the path forward is clear:

  • Ensure validated, universal mental health screenings at the point of separation.
  • Expand culturally competent care that acknowledges the lived experiences of minority veterans.
  • Confront stigma directly with community-based interventions rooted in trust.

Their Health Is On The Line

Veterans gave years of their lives in service. They should not have to fight again for their health and dignity. The nation at large owes them more.

It is time for policies, practices, and investments that make health equity not just a principle, but a promise.