Observational study of the pre-service vulnerabilities, in-service exposures and post-service antecedents of suicide in veterans of the UK Armed Forces, 2007-2018.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Although there have been a number of epidemiological studies of suicide in veterans, there have been few in-depth studies of those who have died. Studies have not explored the relative contribution of pre-service, in-service and post-service factors. We aimed to investigate the adversities veterans face before they take their lives, their contact with support services that could be preventative and whether these differ in younger and older veterans.

Methods

Using national databases of discharged personnel and suicide deaths, we identified deaths by suicide in personnel who left the UK Armed Forces (UKAF) between 2007 and 2018. We extracted information on the antecedents of suicide in a random sample of these deaths from official investigations, mostly coroners'

SUBMITTER: Westhead J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11956363 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature