Veteran Status of Suicide Victims in Rhode Island, 2005–2009

摘要

Suicide remains a leading cause of mortality in the United States. It is the tenth leading cause of death overall and the fourth leading cause of death for persons aged 18-65. Rhode Island has historically reported lower rates of suicide than the nation as whole but the number of suicides steadily in- creased during the years 2005-2010 (Figure 1). This result- ed in a 2010 population rate (135 suicides = 12.9 /100,000) that approximated the U.S. rate for that year (12.4 /100,000). Prospective cohort studies have confirmed that veterans are at increased risk of suicide compared to non-veterans. 4 To explain this, researchers point to higher rates of psychiatric morbidity as well as comfort and familiarity with firear ms