New York officials are seeking better data to track suicide deaths among veterans in order to improve tracking of the problem and address ways of combatting it. 

Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday signed a measure into law to improve the data and bolster prevention efforts. 

"Veterans risk their lives to keep us safe, yet too many — like my uncles who served in Vietnam — aren't given the welcome home that they and thousands of other veterans deserve," Hochul said. "This legislation will ensure New York has accurate data to help us care for these heroes, allowing us to work on preventative strategies for early intervention and help all those who served in uniform." 

The measure will add a provision to require coroners, coroner's physicians or medical examiners to file a report with the Division of Veterans Services after a death appears to have been caused by suicide by a person believed to have served in the military. 

The report will be made alongside a consultation with the Department of Health and include the number of veterans who have died by suicide. The report will also track trends of veteran suicides within the last five years, and compare the rates by county, statewide and nationally. 

The first report will be due by June 2024 and then every three years after. 

"We know that suicide rates among veterans are significantly higher than those of non-veterans and up until now issues with reporting as much has been inaccurate and incomplete," said state Sen. John Brooks, a sponsor of the measure. "By signing this legislation into law, Governor Hochul has taken a major step forward in improving how we identify and ultimately address the mental and emotional pain suffered by so many of our women and men who served in uniform."

The Department of Defense found in 2018 a 13% increase in active-duty military suicides, a record high at the time. New York's Suicide Prevention Task Force in April found suicide rates among veterans were "significantly higher" than those of people who did not serve in the military. 

"As a state, we are always striving to better serve our veterans. While veteran services continue to adapt as needs change one thing that has remained consistent is the alarmingly disproportionate rate of veteran suicides compared to the general population," said Assemblywoman Pamela Hunter. "This bill ensures that more veteran suicides will get reported to the Division of Veterans' Services, which will allow us to better assess factors surrounding veteran suicides and inform our prevention strategies."