Suicidal Admissions in the United States Military

Abstract

Suicide is currently the second leading cause of death in the U.S. military. Little recent research has been done on a well-defined cohort at high risk for death by suicide, which consist of military patients who attempt suicide or are admitted for suicidal ideation. As a pilot investigation based on a literature review of suicidal behavior in the U.S. military, 100 consecutive charts of suicidal patients at a tertiary military treatment facility were reviewed. The findings included the following: 94% were admitted with a depressed mood; 67% had a history of previous attempts or gestures; 49% had been treated with psychiatric medication prior to admission and 88% were treated with psychiatric medications while on the ward; 47% returned to a full duty status; 29% were recommended for administrative separation; and 18% were recommended for a medical board. Suggestions for future research are presented to help improve our suicide prevention programs.

Suicide Among Regular-Duty Military Personnel: A Retrospective Case-Control Study of Occupation-Specific Risk Factors for Workplace Suicide

“…The findings may be used to guide military harm-reduction strategies and have applicability in strategies for other professions at risk for workplace suicide. Sui cide is the second most common cause of death in United States military (1) and accounted for substantial mortality in the Russian military (2), among British veterans of the Falkland Islands war (3), and in the recent Iraq conflict (4). The devastating effect of suicides on unit morale should compel research to guide military authorities in the heretofore little explored areas of suicide risk prediction, management, and reduction.…”

A Review of the Literature on Attrition from the Military Services: Risk Factors for Attrition and Strategies to Reduce Attrition

“…Given 1) the command emphasis on reducing suicide incidence, 2) the amount of medical USACHPPM Project No. 12-HF-01Q9A-04 attention that has been directed at the study of suicides, and 3) the possibility that recruits use suicide ideation as a method to obtain a discharge from service (105,218,219), this is not surprising. Suicidal intent is the single factor most associated with psychiatric hospitalization (to prevent self-injury) and immediate discharge (239).…”

Suicide Prevention Program in the Army of Serbia and Montenegro

“…[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] However, we still considered it still unacceptably high and our aim was to decrease it even more. Therefore, in December 2003, we started to implement the Suicide Prevention Program in the Army.…”