Crisis response planning rapidly reduces suicidal ideation among U.S. military veterans receiving massed cognitive processing therapy for PTSD

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is common among U.S. military veterans and is associated with increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Crisis response planning (CRP), a brief safety planning-type intervention, has been shown to rapidly reduce suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in emergency and acute care settings. CRP’s effectiveness when combined with trauma-focused therapies remains unknown. In this […]

Suicide among Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander veterans: Rates and methods, 2005-2019

Introduction Knowledge of suicide rates and methods among Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Veterans remains sparse. Age- and sex-specific suicide rates, methods, and trends were examined among AANHPI Veterans and were compared with findings reported for all Veterans. Methods For this population-based retrospective cohort study, average annual suicide rates (2005–2019) were computed […]

Veteran suicide: Missed opportunities for suicide prevention within concealed pistol license curriculum

Introduction Veteran suicide is a growing topic for public health concern. Despite enhancements from the Department of Veterans Health Administration, clinicians continue to struggle to identify and engage veterans at risk for suicide. Materials and Methods Examining suicide prevention efforts, epidemiology, risk factors, and barriers to care; Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and […]

‘One Is Too Many’ preventing self-harm and suicide in military veterans: A quantitative evaluation

Introduction In 2021, the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust allocated over £2 million to programmes designed to have a clear and demonstrable impact on suicide prevention. Four grant holders delivered a combination of psychotherapeutic interventions, group activities, social prescribing, peer support mentoring, life skills coaching, educational courses and practical help with housing and employment. The evaluation […]

Predictors of non-fatal suicide attempts among Veterans Health Administration (VHA) patients who experienced military sexual trauma

Objective Military sexual trauma (MST) has been identified as a risk factor for suicidal behavior. To inform suicide prevention efforts within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), this study evaluates predictors of non-fatal suicide attempts (NFSAs) among VHA patients who experienced MST. Methods For VHA patients in fiscal year (FY) 2019 who previously screened positive for […]

Effect of enhanced informed consent on veteran hesitancy to disclose suicidal ideation and related risk factors

Introduction The concealment of suicidal ideation (SI) constitutes a significant barrier to reducing veteran deaths by suicide and is associated with fear of negative consequences (e.g., involuntary hospitalization). This study examined whether augmenting informed consent with psychoeducation aimed to help patients achieve a more realistic risk appraisal of consequences associated with disclosure of SI, decreased […]

Suicide in military and veteran populations: A view across the five eyes nations

Objective: This commentary highlights challenges and opportunities in suicide prevention across the military and veteran populations of the Five Eyes nations. Methods: Trends in suicides and suicidality in military and veteran populations are outlined, as well as identified risk and protective factors, and approaches to suicide prevention. Results: Suicide risk is higher in veterans compared to current serving […]

Canadian Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs Canada joint suicide prevention strategy: Canadian Armed Forces suicide prevention action plan

It is understood that military service creates unique stressors on members and their families both during and after their years of service, which is why the Prime Minister of Canada provided mandate letters directing the  Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) to produce a joint suicide prevention strategy for both CAF members […]

Experiential avoidance, pain, and suicide risk in a national sample of Gulf War veterans

Objective: Pain confers risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Experiential avoidance (EA), which is relevant to both pain and suicide risk, has not been studied as a potential mechanism for this relationship. The present study tested the hypothesis that pain indirectly impacts suicide risk through EA in a national sample of Gulf War veterans. Methods: Participants included […]

Impacts of exposure to suicide of a military colleague from the lived experience of veterans: Informing postvention responses from a military cultural perspective

Although exposure to the suicide death of a military colleague has been shown quantitatively to increase suicide risk factors among veterans, there are very few studies where veterans have been asked about this experience. This article presents a qualitative analysis of 38 interviews with U.S. veterans with exposure to the suicide death of a military […]

Cost comparison of in-person and telehealth modalities for a suicide safety planning group intervention: Interim results from the “Project Life Force” randomized clinical trial

Suicide prevention is a clinical priority for the US Veterans Health Administration. Evidence-based interventions, including developing a suicide safety plan, are recommended practices and are becoming more widespread. Adaptations to further augment safety planning include a manualized group intervention (Project Life Force, PLF) that combines safety planning with the teaching of skills to maximize use […]

Expanding access to evidence-based psychotherapy in VA settings: Implementation of the brief cognitive behavioral therapy for depression program

Introduction: Evidence-based psychotherapies (EBPs) are effective for mental health conditions, but access to these services remains limited and rural Veterans are particularly underserved. Specialized implementation and dissemination programs are needed to improve access to known EBPs. Methods: The current project sought to improve access to a known EBP—brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for depression (Brief CBT). Diverse Veterans […]

Suicide attempts are associated with personality dimensions in Croatian war veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder

Background: Patients with combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have an increased frequency of suicide ideations, but also a higher risk of suicide attempts. Of all the known predisposing risk factors of suicide attempts in this population, personality dimensions are one of the least investigated. The main aim of this study was to examine if personality […]

Women Veterans’ perspectives, experiences, and preferences for firearm lethal means counseling discussions

Aims Firearms have become an increasingly common method of suicide among women Veterans, yet this population has rarely been a focus in firearm suicide prevention research. Limited knowledge is available regarding the preferences, experiences, or needs of women Veterans with respect to firearm lethal means counseling (LMC), an evidence-based suicide prevention strategy. Understanding is necessary […]

Evidence-based treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder decreases suicidal ideation by reducing perceived burdensomeness among veterans in an outpatient program

Evidenced-based posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatments generally reduce suicidal ideation (SI), and the interpersonal theory of suicide (ITS) may theoretically account for this finding. The ITS posits that SI stems from feeling like a burden (i.e., perceived burdensomeness) and a lack of belonging (i.e., thwarted belongingness). Previous research suggests that change in PTSD severity has […]

Predicting suicidal ideation in psychiatrically hospitalized veterans using the death/suicide Implicit Association Test: A prospective cohort study

Introduction We investigated whether the Death/Suicide Implicit Association Test (D/S-IAT) predicted suicidal ideation (SI) in psychiatric inpatients. Methods One hundred eighty veterans admitted for either SI or suicidal behavior (SB) (the primary sample) (N = 90) or alcohol detoxification (N = 90) completed the D/S-IAT and scales measuring SI. Correlation and regression coefficients were measured between the D/S-IAT (as […]

Preventing job loss and functional decline: Description and demonstration of the Veterans Health Administration Supported Employment: Engage and Keep (SEEK) program

The high incidence of untreated mental health concerns among veterans can harm other areas of life, including employment. Loss of employment can lead to other adverse outcomes, such as financial instability, functional decline, and increased risk for suicide. Current Veterans Health Administration (VHA) vocational services are limited in that they primarily serve veterans who are […]

The uncounted casualties of war: Suicide in combat veterans

Military conflicts are ubiquitous. There are a lot of combat veterans around the world. Suicidality in combat veterans is a large and important issue. In this article, the author discusses some aspects of this issue. The combat environment is characterized by violence, physical strains, separation from loved ones, and other hardships. Combat deployment may lead […]

Sleep disorders and suicide attempts following discharge from residential treatment

Introduction: Suicide is a significant public health concern and its prevention remains a top clinical priority of the Veterans Health Administration. Periods of transition in care (e.g., moving from inpatient to outpatient care) represent a period of increased risk. Sleep disorders are prevalent amongst Veterans and are modifiable risk factor for suicide. The present study examined […]

Association of interleukin-6 with suicidal ideation in veterans: A longitudinal perspective

Introduction: Studies showing associations between inflammation in suicide are typically cross-sectional. Present study investigated how cytokine levels track with suicidal ideation and severity longitudinally. Methods: Veterans with a diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD) with or without suicide attempt history (MDD/SA n = 38, MDD/NS n = 41) and non-psychiatric non-attempter controls (HC n = 33) were recruited, MDD/SA and HC groups were followed longitudinally at […]

Suicide ideation, plans, and attempts among military veterans vs nonveterans with disability

Objective  To evaluate whether veteran status is associated with greater risk for suicide in those with disability. Design, Setting, and Participants  This survey study used cross-sectional self-reported data from US adults who participated in the 2015-2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Data were weighted to represent the population. Data analysis was conducted from July to […]

Measuring our communities: The state of military and veteran families in the United States

This report  provides trends and insights into the well-being of the military-connected population, following the ten domain topics featured in our Measuring Communities data portal.

The effects of suicide exposure on mental health outcomes among post-9/11 veterans: Protocol for an explanatory, sequential, mixed methods study

Background: The toll associated with suicide goes well beyond the individual who died. This study focuses on a risk factor for veteran suicide that has received little previous empirical attention-exposure to the suicide death of another person. Objective: The study’s primary objective is to describe the mental health outcomes associated with suicide exposure among veterans who served […]