Dossett study explores Oklahoma’s response to veteran suicide
OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Jo Anna Dossett, D-Tulsa, led an interim study in the Senate’s Veterans and Military Affairs Committee exploring Oklahoma’s response to veteran suicide. The study convened an expert on state-level responses across the nation, as well as two in-state experts on veteran mental health and suicide prevention.
Charlie Severance-Medaris from the National Conference of State Legislatures demonstrated that veteran suicide in Oklahoma occurs at its highest rate among individuals 18 to 34 years old, and that among all Oklahoma veterans who die by suicide, 61% of those were not receiving VA health care in the year before their death.
Daphne Hillhouse, Suicide Prevention Coordinator at VA Eastern Oklahoma, noted that there is a lower rate of suicide among veterans who are receiving VA healthcare, compared with those who are not. Juli Leber from the Healthy Minds Policy Initiative reminded the committee that Oklahoma currently has the nation’s third highest rate of veteran suicide, and when an Oklahoma veteran has experienced a prior suicide attempt, their risk of dying by suicide increases over tenfold.
“This study revealed some sobering data about veteran suicide in Oklahoma, but we also learned about some promising responses from across the nation and some policy recommendations for Oklahoma,” Dossett said.
Recommendations included continued state investment in the 988 Lifeline, which is a mental health hotline available to everyone. Also recommended was increased cooperation between Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics and VA clinics, so as to reduce driving distances and appointment wait times for veterans in need of mental healthcare.
To view the interim study, visit oksenate.gov/live-chamber, go to the Calendar-Day/Month tab, and select the Veterans and Military Affairs Committee hearing held at 1:00 p.m. on Sep. 22, 2026.
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For more information, contact: Sen. Jo Anna Dossett at (405) 521-5624 or JoAnna.Dossett@oksenate.gov
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