According to a report by Connecticut's Hartford Courant, a new study suggests the suicide risk for veterans who served in recent wars is significantly higher than for the general U.S. population. 

The research is to be published next month the journal Annals of Epidemiology. 

The study led by Department of Veterans Affairs and Army researchers says veterans of the recent Iraq and Afghanistan wars are at a 41 to 61 percent higher risk of suicide than non-military personnel.

The report examines the 1,868 suicide deaths of veterans who served between 2001 and 2007.

Researchers found the suicide rate was highest in veterans during the first three years after leaving military service. This risk was high for troops who were deployed and for those who were not deployed.

There was also not much difference in veterans who deployed once or multiple times.

Those who were never deployed to a war zone were found to actually have slightly higher risk of suicide than those deployed. The study's researchers speculate that veterans with preexisting problems would be held back from deployment, but remained in the military.

Male veterans were more likely to commit suicide than female vets.

Prior to the Iraq and Afghanistan wars the suicide rates among military members was 20 to 30 percent lower than the U.S. general population.

The study suggests there is difference with these veterans than those of the Vietnam or Gulf War. Iraq and Afghanistan veterans experienced longer tours, were deployed multiple times and suffered different injuries, often facing injuries from bombs and IEDs.

The stress at returning home also contributes to the higher rates. Troops encounter tough economic issues and employment problems when transitioning to civilian life.

Figures released by the Department of Veterans in 2012 showed 22 vets take their own life everyday. However, the numbers may actually be higher. Only 21 states from 1999 to 2011 contributed data for that study.