A US military veteran committed suicide inside the waiting of room of a Veterans Affairs medical center in St Louis, Missouri on Monday, police said.
The man has not been identified, but the John Cochran VA Medical Center confirmed that he was a veteran.
‘We are grieved to confirm that a Veteran was found deceased in our medical center early this morning,’ VA St Louis Health Care System spokesperson Marcena C. Gunter wrote in an email to the St Louis Post Dispatch.
An unidentified US military veteran, age 62, committed suicide inside the waiting of room of the John Cochran VA Medical Center in St Louis, Missouri early on Monday
‘Our deepest sympathies are with the Veteran’s family and loved ones, our medical center staff and the members of the community affected by this tragic incident,’ Gunter wrote.
The US Department of Veterans Affairs released a report highlighting the increased risk veterans face for potential suicide, in September 2017.
The report found the following: ‘After adjusting for differences in age and sex, risk for suicide was 22 per cent higher among Veterans when compared to US non-Veteran adults.
‘After adjusting for differences in age, risk for suicide was 19 per cent higher among male Veterans when compared to US non-Veteran adult men.
‘After adjusting for differences in age, risk for suicide was 2.5 times higher among female Veterans when compared to US non-Veteran adult women.’
The 62-year-old man committed suicide inside the hospital waiting room at 4.19am Central on Monday, St Louis Police Officer Michelle Woodling said.
The John Cochran VA Medical Center is located at 915 North Grand Boulevard.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
Veterans who are in crisis or having thoughts of suicide, and those who know a Veteran in crisis can also chat online at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat, or text to 838255.
The 62-year-old man committed suicide inside the hospital waiting room at 4.19am Central