The Journey to Mental Wellness - Ginger MacCutcheon

Women’s Army Corps veteran Ginger MacCutcheon’s story of military sexual trauma (MST) is not uncommon. Among veterans enrolled in the VA, 1 in 3 women report experiencing MST, which is a known risk factor for suicide. Women are at least 16 times more likely to experience MST compared with men. Additionally, one study found that veterans who identified MST as the source of their post-traumatic stress disorder were at least three times as likely to have suicidal thoughts as those who said their PTSD was specifically related to combat or deployment.
Ginger MacCutcheon passed away on April 14, 2024, at age 65 following health complications. Ginger felt strongly about using her voice to help others and contributed greatly to the veteran community. We thank her for her years of dedicated service and know her story will continue to positively impact others.
In February 2024, DAV published Women Veterans: The Journey to Mental Wellness. This report is a comprehensive assessment of the unique factors contributing to the staggering rates of suicide among women veterans and how the system charged with their mental health care can and must do better. Read Ginger’s full story and learn more about the report and DAV’s findings at www.womenveterans.org.