Iraq and Afghanistan veterans with PTSD more likely to commit suicide than others

I thought about this title for while, trying to figure out how to get as much attention as possible. This one seemed to fit best. While I used PTSD and this report used "mental health condition" we really know what the majority of the "mental health" conditions really are all about. PTSD is the major one followed by, TBI. The rest, well if you listen to most experts they tell you that when a veteran has PTSD and a psychologist is looking for something else, they are usually able to link what is PTSD to other illnesses. If they are actually looking for PTSD, all they need to do is find a traumatic event. Why? Because the only way to end up with PTSD is after trauma.

Study examines suicide among OEF, OIF vets
By Patricia Kime
Staff writer
Posted : Friday Jul 27, 2012

Iraq and Afghanistan veterans are no more likely to commit suicide than other veterans — unless they have been diagnosed with a mental health condition.

Then, their risk is four times higher than veterans who have not received any mental health diagnosis, according to a study published in the June Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology.

While psychiatric disorders are a known risk factor for suicide in the general population as well as in veterans, researchers sought to determine whether those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan were especially vulnerable.

They cross-referenced the Veterans Health Administration’s National Patient Care Database with the Centers for Disease Control’s National Death Index for answers. In fiscal 2007 and 2008, there were 1,920 veteran suicides, 96 of whom served in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Analysis showed that having a mental health condition correlated with increased risk: a mental health diagnosis increased the suicide risk in Iraq and Afghanistan veterans four-fold, while other veterans with a mental health condition were 2½ times more likely to commit suicide.
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