Prevalence and Characteristics of Suicide Ideation and Attempts Among Active Military and Veteran Participants in a National Health Survey

摘要

The relationships between military service and suicide are not clear, and comparatively little is known about the characteristics and correlates of suicide ideation and attempts among those with history of military service. We used data from a national health survey to estimate the prevalence and correlates of suicidal behaviors among veterans and service members in 2 states. The prevalence of suicidal behaviors among Veterans was similar to previous estimates of ideation and attempts among adults in the US general population. There is evidence of increased suicide risk among some veterans and active military. Previous research reported a 66% increase in suicide risk among veterans receiving services from the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), 1 and rates of suicide in some branches of the military have surpassed those of the general population. 2 Suicide among those with history of military service has been associated with psychiatric diagnoses, 3 active service, 4 and time since separation from military service. 5 However, the relationships between military service and suicide are not clear. 6 A study of suicide among older male veterans in the general population 7 and retrospective studies of veterans from previous conflicts 8 failed to identify general increases in risk. Less is known about the prevalence or characteristics of nonfatal suicidal behavior. One study of recent veterans reported a 12.5% prevalence of suicide ideation in the past 2 weeks; there were positive associations with depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and negative associations with the availability of social support. 9 The main objective of the present study was to identify the prevalence and correlates of nonfatal suicide among veterans and service members in the general population.