Study: Wis. veterans more likely to commit suicide

A new study says Wisconsin veterans are more likely to commit suicide than the general population.

The report says veterans make up 8 percent of Wisconsin's population but committed nearly 21 percent of suicides in the state.

Kenneth Black is the secretary of the state Department of Veterans Affairs. He says his department sees the issue of veteran suicide as a growing concern.

The study was conducted by the state Department of Health Services, the Injury Research Center at the Medical College of Wisconsin and a group called Mental Health America.

The report was presented at a recent meeting of the Board of Veterans Affairs, chaired by Marvin Freedman. He says he'll ask the VA to appoint a staff member to address the report.

--- Information from: Wisconsin Public Radio, http://www.wpr.org (Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)