Post: Understanding suicide risk in veterans in the U.S.

Credit: Unsplash+ Suicide among veterans is a serious issue, and researchers are working to find better ways to prevent it. A recent study looked at veterans who received a suicide risk assessment through the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and identified key warning signs that could help predict which veterans are most at risk.

These findings may help doctors and mental health professionals take better steps to prevent suicide among veterans.

What the Study Examined

The study focused on veterans who went through a suicide risk assessment called the Comprehensive Suicide Risk Evaluation (CSRE). This assessment has been in use across VA clinics for six years. The researchers specifically looked at veterans who received the assessment during its first year of nationwide use.

They analyzed how many of these veterans later died by suicide and what risk factors were most common among them. The study examined suicides that occurred within 30 days and within one year of the assessment.

Key Findings

Even after going through the CSRE process, some veterans remained at a high risk of suicide. The study found that those who had the following factors were the most likely to die by suicide: Current suicidal thoughts – Veterans who were actively thinking about suicide were at higher risk.

A history of making suicide plans – If a veteran had previously made a specific plan to take their own life, their risk was greater.

Access to firearms – Veterans who had guns at home were more likely to die by suicide. Previous stays in mental health hospitals – A history of inpatient mental health treatment was linked to a higher suicide risk. The study found that out of 269,374 CSRE assessments completed for 153,736 veterans between November 2019 and December 2020, 791 veterans died by suicide afterward. Of these deaths: 144 suicides happened within the first 30 days after the assessment. The remaining suicides occurred within a year after the assessment. Most of the veterans who died by suicide had been classified as high-risk by the CSRE, but some who were considered lower-risk also took their own lives. This shows that suicide prediction remains challenging, […]

Understanding suicide risk in veterans in the U.S.