Financial Strain, Suicidal Thoughts, and Suicidal Behavior Among US Military Personnel in the National Guard

Abstract

Abstract. Background: Although financial strain is an identified risk factor for suicide among US military personnel, research is limited regarding the specific dimensions of financial strain that confer the greatest risk. Aims: The present study examined the associations among multiple indicators of financial strain, suicide ideation, and suicide attempts in a sample of US National Guard personnel, a high-risk subgroup of the US military. Method: National Guard personnel from Utah and Idaho ( n = 997) completed an anonymous online self-report survey. Weighted univariate and multivariate logistic regression was used to test hypothesized associations. Results: Lifetime history of suicide ideation was significantly more common among participants reporting recent income decrease, credit problems, and difficulty making ends meet, even when adjusting for other covariates. Lifetime history of suicide attempt was significantly associated with recent foreclosure or loan default, credit problems, and difficulty making ends meet, but only in univariate analyses. Recent credit problems were the only financial strain indicator that significantly predicted a history of suicide attempt among participants with a history of suicide ideation. Limitations: The present study includes self-report methodology and cross-sectional design. Conclusion: Although multiple indicators of financial strain are associated with increased risk for suicidal thinking among National Guard military personnel, credit problems had the strongest association with suicide attempts.

Associations among state‐level physical distancing measures and suicidal thoughts and behaviors among U.S. adults during the early COVID‐19 pandemic

“…Our results revealed an unexpected finding involving financial strain and suicide risk. Specifically, in contrast to previous research finding increased risk for suicidal behaviors among those experiencing financial strain, (Bryan & Bryan, 2019; Franklin et al, 2017) participants in the present study who reported feeling stressed about an unexpected bill or expense that could not be easily afforded were significantly less likely to have made a suicide attempt during the previous month. One potential explanation for this finding is that the risk of a suicide attempt initially declines in the immediate aftermath of acute financial strain, but increases over time as the financial strain persists.…”

Factors associated to suicide risk in stricto sensu postgraduate students: a cross-sectional study

“…The association between the current risk of suicide and financial concerns, evidenced in the present study, is not a recent finding in the study of suicide. Some research studies have corroborated this association over the past decades, showing monetary losses and financial stress as one of the main factors for suicidal behaviors ( 34 - 35 ) . According to these studies, in general, suicide risk in these situations can arise impulsively in a moment of abrupt and unexpected crisis (loss of a job, loss of financial reserves) or from the individual’s difficulties to healthily deal with these stressors ( 34 - 35 ) .…”

“…The association between the current risk of suicide and financial concerns, evidenced in the present study, is not a recent finding in the study of suicide. Some research studies have corroborated this association over the past decades, showing monetary losses and financial stress as one of the main factors for suicidal behaviors (34)(35) .…”

“…or from the individual's difficulties to healthily deal with these stressors (34)(35) . The relation between financial stress and impaired mental health/increased risk of suicide in the general population (35) has been extensively explored in the scientific literature; however, little is known about this relation in some specific contexts, such as between undergraduate and postgraduate students.…”

Toward an understanding of suicidal ideation among career firefighters

“…No information on household size was obtained so we do not know how family size may have factored into income. Nevertheless, previous research has demonstrated an increased potential for suicide among financially distressed individuals (Bryan and Bryan, 2019;Fiksenbaum, Marjanovic, Greenglass, & Garcia-Santos, 2017;Gertner, Rotter, & Shafer, 2019).…”