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Social support may lower risk for suicidal ideation in US veterans

Social connectedness and protective psychosocial characteristics lowered risk for suicidal ideation among U.S. veterans, suggesting potential utility within prevention and intervention efforts.

“Suicide among U.S. military veterans is a significant public health concern, with veterans accounting for roughly 22% of suicides nationally,” Noelle B. Smith, PhD, of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD, and colleagues wrote. “Compared to civilians, veterans in the general population are twice as likely to die by suicide, although the magnitude of these differences is debated and appears to vary across age groups, with the most striking difference being in the relative risk for 17 to 24-year-old male veterans, in which the relative risk is 3.8 times higher than same-age men without military service.”

To assess prevalence and correlates of suicidal ideation among U.S. veterans, researchers analyzed data from the National Health and Resilience Veterans Study for 2,157 veterans. The study consisted of two waves, one conducted in 2011 and the second in 2013.

The majority of veterans did not report suicidal ideation at either time point (86.3%), 5% had suicidal ideation onset, 4.9% reported chronic suicidal ideation and 3.8% had remitted suicidal ideation.

Greater psychiatric distress in wave one was associated with increased risk for chronic suicidal ideation (relative risk ratio = 3.72).

Greater physical health difficulties in wave one was associated with chronic suicidal ideation (RRR = 1.64) and suicidal ideation onset (RRR = 1.47).

History of substance abuse in wave one was associated with chronic suicidal ideation (RRR = 1.57).

Greater protective psychosocial characteristics in wave one were negatively associated with suicidal ideation onset (RRR = 0.57).

Similarly, greater social connectedness in wave one was negatively associated with suicidal ideation onset (RRR = 0.75) and remitted suicidal ideation (RRR = 0.44).

Suicidal ideation was assessed using a past 2-week timeframe and follow-up duration was limited, which may have limited study findings, according to researchers.

“Results suggest that a significant minority of veterans (13.7%) endorsed [suicidal ideation] at either wave 1 or 2. They further suggest that psychiatric distress and physical health problems are key risk factors for both chronic and onset [suicidal ideation]; and that bolstering of social connectedness, particularly by promoting secure attachment style and perceived social support, may help mitigate risk for [suicidal ideation],” the researchers concluded. – by Amanda Oldt

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.