The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs says Missouri has a significantly higher veteran suicide rate than the national average. Department data from 2018 shows that 192 Missouri veterans died by suicide. A Missouri Senate committee is considering legislation sponsored by State Representative Dave Griffith, who served in the Army Special Forces as a Green Beret. Griffith, a Republican from Jefferson City, wants to require the Missouri Veterans Commission to complete an annual report about veteran suicides and suicide prevention efforts.

 

His bill would also require the Veterans Commission to make recommendations annually about suicide prevention and to educate the public on veteran suicides.