Doctors Hope Blood Test Will Help Stem Veterans’ Suicide Urge

Researchers are hoping to reduce the number of American soldiers committing suicide through a simple blood test. The test will check the level of a gene that suppresses so-called stress hormones.

Tests have shown that people who committed suicide had lower levels of the gene. Researchers say the blood test could help doctors prevent suicides by identifying suicidal vets soon enough to keep them from killing themselves.

The suicide rate among combat veterans tripled between 2004 and 2012.