Preventing suicides in the U.S. military.

Griffith, Jeffrey K.; Bryan, Craig J.

doi:10.1037/ser0000225

Cited by 7 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 59 publications

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“…This study identified a three-way relationship between TB, PB, and AC that accounted for 35% of the variance in SI and aligns with earlier research assessing veterans' levels of SI (Griffith & Bryan, 2018;Mitchell et al, 2020;Silva et al, 2017). Results from this study support the application of the IPTS to veteran populations and add to the existing evidence calling for further investigation into the connection between veteran SI and risk of a potential suicide attempt when feelings of PB, TB, and AC are elevated.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

Interpersonal Needs and Suicidality of Discharged Army Veterans

Frazee

Shepler

2022

Journal of Veterans Studies

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Joiner's (2007) Interpersonal Theory of Suicide (IPTS) has shown promise in understanding the ongoing problem of veteran suicide. Consistent with IPTS, it was hypothesized that perceived burdensomeness (PB) and thwarted belongingness (TB) would significantly predict suicidal ideation (SI), while acquired capability (AC) would predict SI after controlling for the effects of PB and TB on SI. It was also hypothesized that Army veterans' help-seeking intentions would negatively predict SI after controlling for PB, TB, and AC and that veterans who had been discharged for one or more years (n = 165) would have higher SI than those discharged for less than one year (n = 105). Data from 270 Army veterans were collected. Measures included the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire-10, the Acquired Capability for Suicide Scale, the Beck Scale of Suicidal Ideation, and the General Help-Seeking Questionnaire. Results indicated that PB and TB were significant predictors of SI (R 2 = .36, F(2, 267) = 74.66, p = .000); neither AC nor veterans' help-seeking intentions significantly predicted SI. Army veterans' time since discharge positively predicted SI (R 2 = .36, F(1, 264) = 31.84, p = .000) and veterans who were discharged longer than 1 year had higher levels of SI than those discharged more recently (R 2 = .38, F(1, 268) = 9.61, p = .002). Results are consistent with the literature and support the need for further research regarding Army veterans and their levels of SI help-seeking behaviors.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

Interpersonal Needs and Suicidality of Discharged Army Veterans

Frazee

Shepler

2022

Journal of Veterans Studies

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“…This effort is consistent with earlier calls for increased firearm safety training as a method of reducing suicide risk (e.g. Griffith and Bryan, 2018; Mann et al , 2005; Ramchand et al , 2011).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

Suicide attempt trends leading up to and following gun lock changes in the 2013 National Defense Authorization Act

Anestis

Daruwala

Carey

2019

JACPR

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Purpose Firearms account for the majority of suicide deaths in the US military and general population. The percentage of suicides resulting from firearms is higher in the military, however, and as such, the ratio of non-lethal to lethal suicide attempts is lower in the military than in the general population. In 2013, Congress passed the National Defense Authorization Act, which facilitated a Department of Defense (DoD) shift toward allowing commanding officers and clinicians to inquire about personal firearms with service members perceived as being at risk and also began giving free cable locks to firearm-owning military personnel. The purpose of this paper is to provide a preliminary understanding of the effectiveness of this change, the authors examined trends in firearm suicide attempts within the US military and general population from 2010 to 2015. Design/methodology/approach Data on non-lethal and lethal suicide attempts overall and within specific methods were extracted from the Department of Defense Suicide Event Report and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (2011–2015). Findings Contrary to expectations, firearms were not utilized in a smaller proportion of suicide attempts within the military post-law change. Consistent with expectations, however, the ratio of non-lethal to lethal suicide attempts increased, particularly after the change in law, with the ratio in the military converging somewhat with that of the general population. Originality/value Overall, results were mixed, with only limited and tangential evidence that the change in law has proven effective. More precise data collection will be required in order to fully evaluate such laws.

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“…AC soldiers in garrison have military healthcare access and can be closely monitored by leaders and clinicians. In contrast, deactivated members of the RCs do not have access to the military healthcare system, and they return to communities that are widely dispersed, often rural, and potentially remote, presenting obstacles to mental health screening and treatment [41]. Addressing these challenges may require new programs, such as peer-to-peer support [42], that can reach RC soldiers in their local communities.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Suicide attempts among activated soldiers in the U.S. Army reserve components

et al. 2019

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BackgroundAlthough the majority of active duty U.S. Army soldiers are full-time personnel in the Active Component (AC), a substantial minority of soldiers on active duty are in the Reserve Components (RCs). These “citizen-soldiers” (Army National Guard and Army Reserve) represent a force available for rapid activation in times of national need. RC soldiers experience many of the same stressors as AC soldiers as well as stressors that are unique to their intermittent service. Despite the important role of RC soldiers, the vast majority of military mental health research focuses on AC soldiers. One important goal of the Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Servicemembers (Army STARRS) is to address this gap. Here we examine predictors of suicide attempts among activated RC soldiers.MethodsThis longitudinal, retrospective cohort study used individual-level person-month records from Army and Department of Defense administrative data systems to examine socio-demographic, service-related, and mental health predictors of medically documented suicide attempts among activated RC soldiers during 2004–2009. Data from all 1103 activated RC suicide attempters and an equal-probability sample of 69,867 control person-months were analyzed using a discrete-time survival framework.ResultsEnlisted soldiers comprised 84.3% of activated RC soldiers and accounted for 95.7% of all activated RC suicide attempts (overall rate = 108/100,000 person-years, more than four times the rate among officers). Multivariable predictors of enlisted RC suicide attempts included being female, entering Army service at age ≥ 25, current age < 30, non-Hispanic white, less than high school education, currently married, having 1–2 years of service, being previously deployed (vs. currently deployed), and history of mental health diagnosis (particularly when documented in the previous month). Predictors among RC officers (overall rate = 26/100,000 person-years) included being female and receiving a mental health diagnosis in the previous month. Discrete-time hazard models showed suicide attempt risk among enlisted soldiers was inversely associated with time in service.ConclusionsRisk factors for suicide attempt in the RCs were similar to those previously observed in the AC, highlighting the importance of research and prevention focused on RC enlisted soldiers in the early phases of Army service and those with a recent mental health diagnosis.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12888-018-1978-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Preventing suicides in the U.S. military.

Cited by 7 publications

References 59 publications

Interpersonal Needs and Suicidality of Discharged Army Veterans

Interpersonal Needs and Suicidality of Discharged Army Veterans

Suicide attempt trends leading up to and following gun lock changes in the 2013 National Defense Authorization Act

Suicide attempts among activated soldiers in the U.S. Army reserve components

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