Suicide Risk among Military Women

Abstract

There is limited scientific literature on suicidal self-directed violence among military women. When compared with their civilian counterparts, military women are at a three-fold increased risk for suicide and, once they enter Veteran status, they are 79% more likely to die by suicide than civilian women. This article provides an overview of the problem of suicide among military women. Guidance on how to best assess and manage suicide risk among military women is provided. Providers are encouraged to adopt a bio-psychosocial approach and carefully evaluate each patient’s traumatic life events, history of self-injurious behaviors with and without intention to die, postpartum depression, psychosis, relational problems, other psychiatric conditions, and/or occupational stressors. A series of clinical recommendations, such as implementing a safety plan, are discussed. Advances in epidemiologic and behavioral health research are needed to best understand the suicide risk assessment and treatment needs of military women.