More military veterans and lively duty service members are dying by suicide than in battle – understanding why may also help with prevention

Although service members know they could lose their lives in combat in service of their country, they could not expect to lose their lives – or those they love – to suicide. A 2021 study estimated that 4 times as many lively duty service members and veterans died by suicide as died in battle since 9/11.

Despite recent calls to motion to enhance suicide prevention inside the military, suicide rates remain elevated amongst service members. In particular, lively duty Army suicide rates were nearly two times higher than other lively duty military services and greater than two and a half times higher than the general population. Suicide rates are much more elevated in veterans, with an estimated 17 or more dying by suicide every day in 2021.

My research is geared toward identifying what drives high rates of suicide amongst certain groups. Better understanding what causes lively duty service members and veterans to take into consideration and plan suicide is imperative for efforts to forestall it.

Risk aspects for suicide inside the military

There are many the explanation why service members and veterans can have elevated rates of thoughts of suicide and death. Notably, risk aspects for lively duty service members might be different from those of veterans.

Some aspects linked to suicide in lively duty service members include loneliness, relationship issues, workplace difficulties, trauma, disrupted schedules, increased stress, poor sleep, injury and chronic pain. On top of those same aspects, veterans might also experience difficulties transitioning to civilian life.

Additionally, service members can have an elevated capability for suicide, meaning a decreased fear of death, high pain tolerance and familiarity with using highly lethal means like firearms.

Rethinking suicide research within the military

Increasing rates of suicide suggest that researchers need to check suicide in a different way with the intention to save more lives. Fortunately, several research advances are helping scientists rethink the best way people study suicide inside and outdoors the military.

In my lab’s recent study, we harnessed a few of these innovations to check what drives thoughts of suicide amongst service members. We asked 92 participants to download an app on their phones and take short surveys assessing suicide risk aspects 4 times per day for one month. Using a more moderen kind of statistical method called network evaluationwe were capable of pinpoint which symptoms related to suicide risk had the best influence on other symptoms at one moment in time in addition to over time.

Overall, we found that feeling ineffective or like a burden to others, a way of low belonging or feeling disconnected from others, and agitation are necessary drivers of moment-to-moment and longer-term risk for thoughts of suicide amongst service members and veterans.

Increasing effectiveness and belonging

Based on our study results, considering how the military each fosters and hinders a way of belonging and effectiveness could help address suicide risk aspects. This may develop into much more necessary as demands created by technology, reminiscent of drone pilots operating in siloed facilities, may lead lively duty service members to be less connected to at least one one other.

Additionally, some lively duty service members report task saturation – feeling like they’ve an excessive amount of to do without enough time, resources or tools to get tasks done. They also report working an unbalanced amount of hours that precludes rest and reflection. Allowing soldiers more time to do their work and reflect on it could renew their sense of effectiveness and improve their understanding of how they contribute to overall goals.

Additionally, military leadership could find ways to prioritize and reward group-level achievements over individual accomplishments. This could lead on to each increased belonging and reduced feelings of ineffectiveness, in turn reducing thoughts of suicide.

Finally, leisure techniquesincluding progressive muscle leisure, massage and delicate movement, might be useful in reducing agitation.

There continues to be much work to do to show the tides within the fight against suicide and help those that serve and protect us. If you or someone you’re keen on is occupied with suicide, know that you just are usually not alone and there’s help. For military-specific resources, you may call 988 after which press 1, or text 838255. You also can visit www.veteranscrisisline.net.