Prevalence and risk factors associated with suicides of Army soldiers 2001–2009.

Abstract

Prevalence and risk factors associated with soldiers' suicides 2001-2009 (N = 874) were examined. Army suicide rates increased from 9 per 100,000 in 2001 to 22 per 100,000 in 2009. Soldier suicides were lower than civilians from 2001 to 2007, but higher than civilians after 2007. Army suicides were disproportionately higher for men, deployment experience, and a history of a mental health diagnosis/treatment; and lower for African Americans. Many involved planning (38%), communication (21%), alcohol (19%), or drugs (8%). Many had legal problems (31%), high stress loads (90%), a history of self-injury (10%), and other contributing factors prior to entry into the Army (31%). Implications for understanding suicide among military personnel are discussed.Contemporary research on suicide in the general population has shown that biological, psychosocial, and environmental factors interact to influence suiciderelated deaths each year (Brown,

Suicide attempts in U.S. Army combat arms, special forces and combat medics

“…Suicidal behavior among U.S. Army soldiers increased substantially during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, [1, 2] with the rates of suicide death more than doubling from 2001 (9/100,000) through 2009 (22/100,000) and surpassing the adjusted civilian rate in 2008 [3]. Although the Army has implemented a variety of screening [4–6] and prevention programs, [7] identifying soldiers at risk of suicide remains a significant challenge.…”

Army Suicides: “Knowns” and an Interpretative Framework for Future Directions

“…Men were more likely to choose methods of gunshot, hanging, and asphyxiation, whereas women were more likely to choose drug overdoses. Black et al (2011) also reported that nearly one-half of suicides had prior mental health diagnoses, usually mood disorder, major depressive disorder, substance-related disorder, anxiety disorder other than PTSD, adjustment disorder, and PTSD (U.S. Army Public Health Command, 2010;Milliken et al, October 2011). Civilian suicides also have been associated with co-occurring mental health disorders (Nock, Hwang, Sampson, & Kessler, 2010).…”

“…Millikan, Spiess, Mitchell, Fulcher, &Watts (June 2011) andPorter (October 2011) and authors of the U.S. Army Public Health Command report (2010) described the 20-year-old age group as having the highest suicide rate, with increased risk associated with ages under 35 years. The most common methods of suicide were gunshot wounds and hanging (Black et al, 2011). Men were more likely to choose methods of gunshot, hanging, and asphyxiation, whereas women were more likely to choose drug overdoses.…”

“…Many of the suicide cases in Army analyses have behavioral and mental health conditions, which-on the face of it-are very different than those having problems in daily living (U.S. Army Public Health Command, 2010;Griffith, 2012). Additionally, many suicides were associated with earlier, childhood abuses (Black et al, 2011;Millikan et al, June 2011). Very recent research has shown childhood and early adolescent trauma, which here it was argued exacerbates age-specific developmental tasks, predicted later young adulthood suicide behaviors-both as a main effect and interaction effect between these earlier experiences and current stressors (Pompili et al, 2011).…”

“…Most suicides (79%) had stressful personal life circumstances. The most commonly cited personal life circumstances included relationship problems, job problems (both military and civilian), and physical health problems (Black et al, 2011;U.S. Army Public Health Command, 2010).…”