Military Suicide: Theoretical Understandings and Responses

Suicide rates within the U.S. military are elevated, necessitating greater efforts to identify those at increased risk. This study utilized a multigroup confirmatory factor analysis to examine measurement invariance of the Military Suicide Research Consortium Common Data Elements (CDEs) across current service members ( n = 2,015), younger veterans (<35 years; n = 377), and older veterans (≥35 years; n = 1,001). Strong factorial invariance was supported with adequate model fit observed for current service members, younger veterans, and older veterans. The structures of all models were generally comparable with few exceptions. The Military Suicide Research Consortium CDEs demonstrate at least adequate model fit for current military service members and veterans, regardless of age. Thus, the CDEs can be validly used across military and veteran populations. Given similar latent structures, research findings in one group may inform clinical and policy decision making for the other.

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Caring Letters for Military Suicide Prevention

Handbook of Military and Veteran Suicide ◽

10.1093/med:psych/9780199873616.003.0019 ◽

2017 ◽

pp. 240-254 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

David D. Luxton

Keyword(s):

Psychiatric Patients ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Suicide Mortality ◽

Suicide Intervention ◽

Empirically Supported ◽

Us Military ◽

Risk Patients ◽

High Level ◽

Military Suicide ◽

Suicide Behaviors

The caring letters concept is a suicide intervention that involves the routine sending of the brief expressions of care to high-risk patients following hospitalization or emergency department treatment. Caring letters is one of the only interventions that has been shown to reduce suicide mortality rates in a randomized controlled trial. Additional studies using various modalities including email, SMS texting, postcards, and phone contacts have further supported the caring letters concept in preventing suicide behaviors. Given the high level of suicide risk among posthospitalized psychiatric patients and the rise in suicide rates within the US military over the past decade, it is important to implement empirically supported interventions. This chapter describes the caring letters intervention and a test of the intervention at US military and veterans hospitals. The theoretical basis for the intervention, as well as practical procedures and recommendations for implementing caring contact programs, are discussed.

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