As part of Datathon Mission Lifeline, an innovative initiative spearheaded by A-G’s Data Science Community of Practice and Military, Veteran, and Family Center of Excellence (MVF COE), data scientists, researchers, and subject-matter experts from across the organization researched areas of Veteran mental health.
Team Overachievers (Sarah Freedman, Mackenzie Witt, Chris Radabaugh, and Maureen Traverse) delivered a powerful and deeply human presentation focused on a lesser-discussed but vitally important topic: the role of military identity in the suicide risk among transitioning service members.
Their work took a qualitative research approach, diving into veteran-reported experiences, existing literature, and government reports to uncover how identity loss and social disruption during the military-to-civilian transition can heighten suicide risk.
Project Focus: Military Identity & Transition as Suicide Risk Factors
Team Overachievers explored how military culture becomes deeply embedded in an individual’s identity, and how the loss of that identity during separation from service can cause significant emotional and psychological disruption. They focused especially on the first year after transition, a critical period when suicide risk peaks.
You’re gainfully employed, housed, and supported one day—and the next, all of that may be gone.
Methodology & Data Sources
- Non-exhaustive literature review
- Department of Defense (DoD) and VA reports on suicide risk
- Policy documents and government statistics
- Veteran-reported qualitative data (quotes, interviews, and firsthand accounts)
Their goal was to highlight not only the data, but to join it with the important voices and stories behind the data.
Key Statistics: The First Year Post-Transition
The team zeroed in on the first-year post-service—a time of massive upheaval:
- 2% of newly transitioned veterans experience homelessness.
- 40–45% leave their first civilian job within 12 months; 80% within two years.
- 25% experience food insecurity.
- 30% show symptoms of PTSD or depression.
- 12% report self-medicating with substances.
- Veterans experiencing difficult transitions are 5 times more likely to have suicidal thoughts.
Closer to 50% of recently separated veterans experience suicidal thoughts, compared to 30% in the general veteran population.
The Four Key Losses
Their analysis identified four core types of “loss” veterans experience when leaving the military:
1. Loss of Community
Veterans often describe military relationships as family-like—something difficult to recreate in civilian life.
2. Loss of Culture
Military life is highly structured, disciplined, and goal-driven. Civilian life can feel chaotic and isolating by comparison.
3. Loss of Purpose
Veterans go from being part of something bigger than themselves to suddenly asking, “What’s next?”
4. Loss of Identity
With most recruits entering service between 18 and 24 years old, military life becomes a foundational part of their identity, making it even harder to redefine themselves after separation.
In the civilian world, it's like: Who am I? What do I wear? Where do I go?
The Identity Crisis Is Compounded
Team Overachievers emphasized that identity loss doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It’s amplified by a “perfect storm” of risk factors:
- Internal/Psychological: PTSD, moral injury, chronic pain, military sexual trauma.
- Social/Relational: Isolation, family strain, loss of structure and support.
- Structural/Economic: Unemployment, housing instability, difficulty navigating VA benefits.
- Cultural: Stoicism and self-reliance norms that discourage help-seeking.
In the military, you don’t talk about your feelings. You bottle them up and take care of them.
Barriers to Care
Veterans with less-than-honorable discharges or who have experienced military sexual trauma often feel betrayed by the institutions they served, leading to higher suicide risk and barriers to accessing care.
Recommendations for Reducing Suicide Risk
Team Overachievers offered several practical, evidence-based suggestions:
1. Early & Proactive Support
The first 3 months post-separation are critical. Help veterans access employment, housing, benefits, and social networks before they leave service.
2. Strengthen Social Connection
Promote peer support, mentorship, and veteran networks to combat isolation.
3. Lethal Means Safety and Storage
Implement firearm safety and storage strategies, especially important given high familiarity with weapons.
4. Ongoing Mental Health Screening
Regular follow-ups are particularly important for veterans facing food insecurity, homelessness, or economic hardship.
5. Cultural Competency for Clinicians
Train civilian providers in military culture to better understand and serve veterans.
What’s Next for Team Overachievers?
The team plans to develop a white paper to consolidate their findings and support ongoing research and policy development. Their goal: create better-informed, more empathetic, and purpose-driven support systems for transitioning service members.
Veteran suicide prevention starts with helping them build a new identity—while still honoring the one they leave behind.
Stay tuned for more from Datathon Mission Lifeline and the incredible work of the participating teams.
