Suicide Among Regular-Duty Military Personnel: a Retrospective Case-Control Study of Occupation-Specific Risk Factors for Workplace Suicide

The purpose of this study was to examine the epidemiology, phenomenology, & occupation-specific risk factors for suicide among regular-duty military personnel as a model for other professions at risk for workplace suicide. All 732 deaths of regular-duty military personnel in Irish Defence Forces between 1970-2002 were matched to military comparison subjects. Access to & opportunity to use lethal means in the workplace were found to be distinct but related occupation-specific risk factors in the military & other at-risk professions. Findings from this study may be used to guide military harm-reduction strategies. (64 refs.)