Suicide in the Military: its Relation to Peacekeeping Stress

The causes of suicide in the Canadian Forces were studied with particular reference to the possible role of UN peacekeeping stress. A tripartite study compared 66 suicides from 1990-1995 with a random sample of military personnel, a matched case control of records, & a psychological autopsy of a small sample & controls. Peacekeeping did not emerge as a risk factor overall for land & sea forces; there was a greater risk for air personnel which increased when single status & low rank were added.