Washington, DC — Today IAVA will release the results of its 10th Annual Survey at 5pm in the Rayburn Building on Capitol Hill. The survey was issued over a three-week period in December and January to all IAVA member veterans. Over 1700 veterans responded.

“This survey is the best evidence we have as a nation about the post-9/11 community of veterans,” said IAVA CEO Jeremy Butler. “This survey will fuel IAVA’s policy priorities for the next year; American leaders should take notice and act upon the issues highlighted in the results of this survey. I am particularly concerned that we are not making the progress we need to make on combating veteran suicide or in addressing the needs of women veterans.”

Mental health and suicide prevention continued to be the top issue impacting the post-9/11 generation according to IAVA member veterans. Only 15% of IAVA members believe that as a nation we are making progress on combating military and veteran suicide. A shocking 44% of veteran members report suicidal ideation since joining the military.

The percentage of IAVA members who report knowing a post-9/11 veteran who has attempted or died by suicide also remains alarmingly high. Sixty seven percent of respondents personally know a post-9/11 veteran who has attempted suicide (65% in 2019 and 54% in 2015), while 62% personally know a veteran who has died by suicide (59% in 2019, 45% in 2015, and 40% in 2014). IAVA is a champion of the Commander John Scott Hannon Veteran Mental Healthcare Improvement Act, a bill in the Senate that would improve the reach of mental health services to veterans nationwide.

Veterans’ perspectives on the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan have remained essentially the same. This year, 49% of IAVA members believe that our engagement in Iraq was worth it and 62% believe that our engagement in Afghanistan was worth it. In 2019, the numbers were 47% and 62%, respectively.

Opinions on President Trump were overall positive. Fifty four percent agree that Trump acts in the interest of veterans, up 7% from 2019. Thirty four percent disagree that Trump acts in the interest of veterans, down 8% from 2019. Fifty percent opposed the impeachment of President Trump and 37% supported impeachment.

For complete survey results, see the IAVA survey results website here. Complete results will be available at 5pm EST on Wednesday, March 4.