Veteran Suicide Risk Factors: A National Sample of Nonveteran and Veteran Men Who Died by Suicide

Abstract Veteran suicide is a serious public health problem. Some data suggest that veteran suicide risk profiles differ from those of nonveterans. Records for veteran (n = 21,692) and nonveteran (n = 83,430) men who died by suicide were examined from 17 U.S. states using the National Violent Death...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Health & social work 2020-01, Vol.45 (1), p.23-30
Main Authors: Wood, David S, Wood, Bethany M, Watson, Aislinn, Sheffield, Devan, Hauter, Helena
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Health problems
Health status
Males
Men
Meta Analysis
Physical Health
Prevention programs
Public health
Risk factors
Social workers
States
Suicide
Suicide prevention
Systematic review
Veterans
Violent death
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Summary:Abstract Veteran suicide is a serious public health problem. Some data suggest that veteran suicide risk profiles differ from those of nonveterans. Records for veteran (n = 21,692) and nonveteran (n = 83,430) men who died by suicide were examined from 17 U.S. states using the National Violent Death Reporting System data. Seventeen precipitating factors were examined and combined through meta-analysis of proportions. Many precipitating factors were found to be less frequent for veterans. A smaller number of factors were found to be higher in the veteran population, including physical health problems. A sizable cumulative effect size (1.02) was observed, suggesting that veteran and nonveteran men show meaningful and substantive differences in their risk profiles—differences that should be considered when planning and implementing suicide prevention and intervention efforts. The conspicuous role of physical health problems among veterans who die by suicide is discussed. The article concludes with specific practice recommendations for social workers.
ISSN:0360-7283
1545-6854
DOI:10.1093/hsw/hlz037