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,

Nonfatal Suicidal Behaviors in U.S. Army Administrative Records, 2004–2009: Results from the Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Servicemembers (Army STARRS)

“…The higher odds associated with lower rank is consistent with research on self-reported suicide attempts (Nock et al, 2014) and most (Bachynski et al, 2012; Bell et al, 2010; Logan, Skopp, Karch, Reger, & Gahm, 2012; Schoenbaum et al, 2014) but not all (Black, Gallaway, Bell, & Ritchie, 2011) recent studies of suicide deaths among soldiers. Although our preliminary finding of increased risk among those entering Army service prior to the age of 21 could have important implications for targeted prevention programs, there is evidence that this finding may not persist in more complex analyses (Nock et al, 2014).…”

Medically Documented Suicide Ideation Among U.S. Army Soldiers

“…Although the influence of deployment on adverse mental health outcomes is well supported,(Bray et al, 2010; Gadermann et al, 2012; Jacobson et al, 2008; Shen, Arkes, & Williams, 2012; Wells et al, 2010) the association of deployment with suicidal thoughts and behaviors has generated inconsistent results. (Bryan et al, 2015) Prior mental disorders are a robust predictor of both fatal(Black, Gallaway, Bell, & Ritchie, 2011) and nonfatal(Ursano, Kessler, Stein, et al, 2015) suicidal behaviors in service members, findings in line with a large body of civilian research. (Harris & Barraclough, 1997; Nock, Hwang, Sampson, & Kessler, 2010)…”

Association Between Mental Health Conditions Diagnosed During Initial Eligibility for Military Health Care Benefits and Subsequent Deployment, Attrition, and Death by Suicide Among Active Duty Service Members

“…Such might be explained by cohort members being formally diagnosed and their conditions treated, as opposed to those with potentially undiagnosed, untreated disorders, or by the cohort's 77% decreased rate of deployment, a risk factor for suicide. 13,14 The majority of those diagnosed with most mental diagnoses did complete 48 months of service. Though completion rate was lower than for those not so diagnosed, an argument can be made for the efficacy care in terms of assisting most members with mental diagnoses to complete their tours of duty.…”