scholarly journals The spiritual health of veterans with a history of suicide ideation

2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 349-358 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marek S. Kopacz
Author(s):  
Meghan Lacks ◽  
Angela Lamson ◽  
Jessica Goodman

LAY SUMMARY This study explored the physical, psychological, social, and spiritual health of active duty women, including how each of these dimensions of health is related to one another. In particular, this study addresses active duty women’s health and experiences associated with trauma, sexual harassment, deployment, and physical health outcomes. A total of 76 active duty women completed a survey consisting of questions about demographics, physical health, psychological health, physical and psychological trauma history, social support, history of sexual harassment, and spirituality. Results showed that women with larger waist circumference had more physical pain and previous experiences with sexual harassment. Also, women who experienced more traumatic events in their lifetime were more involved in organized and non-organized religion or spiritual activities. Being in the military influences every service member’s health; however, more attention is needed to understanding the ways in which biopsychosocial-spiritual assessments and treatment can be created and adopted by medical, mental health, social service, and spiritual health providers.


2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-52
Author(s):  
Eric Sorenson

It was a universal conviction among the leaders of the ancient church that vocational ministry is attended by certain spiritual hazards that threaten to undo the very soul of the minister. This notion is revived in William Paley’s 1795 sermon, “Dangers Incidental to the Clerical Character.” The pastoral ministry, he warns, is comprised of “dangers inherent to the very nature of our profession.” In this ordination sermon, Paley not only identifies certain spiritual hazards, but he traces their roots to the unique context and responsibilities of daily ministry. A close reading of Paley’s sermon highlights its clear relevance to ministers in the twenty-first century, who, like all ministers throughout the history of the church, are constantly exposed to the spiritual dangers lurking in ministry itself. Such a close reading also reveals practical means by which today’s minister can be constantly vigilant to overcome these dangers.


2015 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 608
Author(s):  
João Gama Marques ◽  
Alice Roberto ◽  
Cátia Guerra ◽  
Mariana Pinto da Costa ◽  
Anja Podlesek ◽  
...  

<strong>Introduction:</strong> The aim of this paper was to assess the prevalence of suicide ideation and attempts in Portuguese psychiatry trainees (adult and child and adolescence), and compare the data with the general population and other European countries.<br /><strong>Material and Methods:</strong> A structured and anonymous questionnaire was sent by email to 159 portuguese trainees of adult psychiatry and child and adolescence psychiatry with questions about personal history of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts, as well as family history of suicide attempts and completed suicides. This is part of the BoSS Study (Burnout Syndrome Study) performed in 21 countries worldwide. Data was analysed in SPSS v.19.<br /><strong>Results:</strong> From the inquired population, 62 trainees (40,3%) partially responded, and 46 (29%) were complete responders - these entered the final analysis. There was a ratio of 2:1 (female:male) and a mean age of 29 years. The suicidal ideation was present in passive form in 44% and in active form in 33%; also, 4.3% of respondents had previous suicide attempts. In first degree relatives, 22% had attempted suicide and 13% completed suicide.<br /><strong>Discussion:</strong> The results are worriying and may be associated with some factors to which this population is exposed.<br /><strong>Conclusion:</strong> It is necessary further research to better understand this phenomenon, its causes and potential modifiers.


2019 ◽  
Vol 38 (8) ◽  
pp. 627-646
Author(s):  
Arezoo Shahnaz ◽  
Boaz Y. Saffer ◽  
E. David Klonsky

Introduction: Time perspective orientation (TPO) refers to the way an individual psychologically and behaviorally connects to temporal concepts of past, present, and future. Previous studies have hypothesized that certain types of time perspectives, such as a negative orientation towards the past, predict negative psychological functioning and outcomes, including suicide risk. The current study examines whether differences in TPOs are linked to suicidal thoughts or suicidal acts using two measures of time perspective. Methods: We recruited a large online U.S.-based sample comprised of three groups: participants with (a) a history of suicide attempts (attempters; n = 107), (b) a history of suicide ideation but no history of attempts (ideators; n = 164), and (c) no history of ideation or attempts (nonsuicidal; n = 194). Results: A Positive Past (d = 0.71) and Negative Past (d = 0.89) orientation yielded large differences between individuals with a history of suicide ideation and nonsuicidal participants, where Positive Past was elevated among nonsuicidal participants and Negative Past among ideators. These differences were not accounted for by depression or anxiety. However, TPO differences between individuals with a history of suicide ideation and individuals with a history of attempts ranged from negligible to small (d range = 0.03—0.33). Discussion: The findings suggest that time perspective may be robustly associated with the development of suicide ideation, but only minimally related to suicide attempts among ideators.


Author(s):  
Thomas J. Dishion ◽  
James Snyder

This chapter summarizes the history of research focused on coercive relationship dynamics among family members and peers. It is plausible that evolutionary mechanisms are at play that account for the cross-generational repetition of conflict and coercion and the alarming transformations in human behavior that lead to more serious forms of violence. Considerable progress has been made in understanding the genetic and neurobiological underpinnings of emotion-regulation patterns that define vulnerability to coercive relationships. Coercive relationship dynamics can be subtle and laden with many emotions, but ultimately, the core dynamic is that conflict is solved by emotional manipulation rather than by negotiation. More nuanced forms of coercion are also implicated in some patterns of depression, anxiety, and suicide ideation and attempts. There are several evidence-based prevention and treatment strategies for youth problem behavior and marital relationships. Successful prevention and intervention must skillfully motivate and manage changes in these overlearned patterns of behavior.


Crisis ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (6) ◽  
pp. 437-445
Author(s):  
Craig J. Bryan ◽  
AnnaBelle O. Bryan

Abstract. Background: Although financial strain is an identified risk factor for suicide among US military personnel, research is limited regarding the specific dimensions of financial strain that confer the greatest risk. Aims: The present study examined the associations among multiple indicators of financial strain, suicide ideation, and suicide attempts in a sample of US National Guard personnel, a high-risk subgroup of the US military. Method: National Guard personnel from Utah and Idaho ( n = 997) completed an anonymous online self-report survey. Weighted univariate and multivariate logistic regression was used to test hypothesized associations. Results: Lifetime history of suicide ideation was significantly more common among participants reporting recent income decrease, credit problems, and difficulty making ends meet, even when adjusting for other covariates. Lifetime history of suicide attempt was significantly associated with recent foreclosure or loan default, credit problems, and difficulty making ends meet, but only in univariate analyses. Recent credit problems were the only financial strain indicator that significantly predicted a history of suicide attempt among participants with a history of suicide ideation. Limitations: The present study includes self-report methodology and cross-sectional design. Conclusion: Although multiple indicators of financial strain are associated with increased risk for suicidal thinking among National Guard military personnel, credit problems had the strongest association with suicide attempts.


Author(s):  
Elizabeth Shakman Hurd

Since World War II, the promotion of American-friendly “free” religion abroad has been understood to benefit the rest of the world by saving it from religious and political tyranny. For decades, the United States has designed and sponsored religious reform projects to instruct religious individuals and groups abroad on how to be free, or at least freer, versions of themselves. This chapter explores the politics of US foreign religious engagement. It argues that while religious engagement does involve an attempt to strengthen US-friendly religious authorities and communities abroad, it is, at the same time, and more fundamentally, a project of religious reform, of transforming religions into what is understood to be better versions of themselves. It discusses three empirical focal points in the history of US foreign relations that illustrate this argument, beginning with American efforts to promote “global spiritual health” during the early Cold War.


2021 ◽  
pp. 026455052110415
Author(s):  
Charlie Brooker ◽  
Karen Tocque ◽  
Georgia West ◽  
Alice Norman-Taylor ◽  
James Fowler

Suicide in probation services is far higher than the general population. This paper presents secondary analysis of data previously used to evaluate the outcome of delivering psychological treatment to probationers in London. A sample of probation service users who screened positive for clinically significant symptoms of distress and were subsequently assessed and offered treatment ( n = 274) were allocated retrospectively to one of three groups: those with a history of suicidal ideations but no suicide attempts (ideation group), those with a history of a suicidal act (attempt group) or a control group where suicide was not evident (no history group). Results indicate no significant difference between the ideation and the attempt groups, but significant differences between these and the no history group. The findings are discussed within the context of the suicide ideation-to-action models that have been debated in other offender settings. We conclude that a more nuanced understanding of suicidal acts and suicide attempts is required in probation services including a prospective study that tests the ideation-to-action model.


2017 ◽  
Vol 62 (6) ◽  
pp. 422-430 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robyn Jane McQuaid ◽  
Amy Bombay ◽  
Opal Arilla McInnis ◽  
Courtney Humeny ◽  
Kimberly Matheson ◽  
...  

Objective: Suicide rates among Indigenous peoples in Canada are at least twice that of their non-Indigenous counterparts. Although contemporary stressors contribute to this increased risk, historical experiences such as the Indian Residential School (IRS) system may also have continuing links with the risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors. The current investigation examined the intergenerational and cumulative links between familial IRS attendance in relation to lifetime suicide ideation and attempts among First Nations adults living on-reserve. Method: Data from the 2008-2010 First Nations Regional Health Survey were analyzed, and participants comprised a representative sample of First Nations adults older than 18 years (weighted N = 127,338; IRS attendees were excluded). Of those who knew their familial IRS history, 38.0% had no history of attendance, 19.3% had a grandparent who attended, 16.2% had a parent who attended, and 26.5% had a parent and grandparent who attended. Results: Exposure of one previous familial generation to the IRS experience was associated with increased risk for lifetime suicide ideation (odds ratio [OR], 1.46; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16 to 1.84; P = 0.001) and attempts (OR, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.07 to 1.94; P < 0.016) compared with those with no IRS history. Having 2 generations of IRS familial history was associated with greater odds of reporting a suicide attempt compared with having one generation (OR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.05 to 1.75; P = 0.022), which was reduced when current levels of distress and ideation were accounted for. Conclusion: Findings support the existence of linkages between intergenerational exposure to IRS and risk for suicidal ideation and attempts and for a potential cumulative risk in relation to suicide attempts across generations.


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