Preventing Military Suicides Won't Happen Without Change

Army works to prevent suicide through education, intervention
US Army Homepage
By Kate J. Ray, RN, Behavioral Health, Kenner Army Health Clinic
September 3, 2015

FORT LEE, Va. (Sept. 3, 2015) -- The International Association for Suicide Prevention and the World Health Organization will observe World Suicide Prevention Day, Sept. 10, with the theme "Preventing Suicide: Reaching Out and Saving Lives."

This observance acts as a call to action to both individuals and organizations that suicide can be prevented through education and intervention.

The Army has been concerned about suicide since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in 2008 that the rate of suicide among Army service members was nearly double the civilian rate. This led to the largest military-based mental health study ever undertaken, which involved the Army partnering with the National Institute of Mental Health to study the factors leading to Soldiers ending their own lives.

This year, some of the data from the "Army Study to Assess Risk and Resiliency in Service members," or STARRS, was released, and it is helping to drive changes in the way the Army views suicide.

Several risk factors for suicide occur among civilian and military populations including: an existing diagnosis of depression or severe anxiety; recent behavioral health hospitalization; alcohol or substance abuse; chronic pain or a serious medical condition; experiencing a highly stressful life event; relationship conflicts; and bullying at work or among peers.

In addition, Army STARRS showed some military-specific risk factors - i.e. being an enlisted Soldier, having a recent demotion or having deployed - put troops at a higher risk for suicidal acts. The Virginia Department of Health reports veterans account for 22 percent of all suicide victims in Virginia older than 18.
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