Is Time from Separation/Deactivation Associated with Suicide Incidence Rate Among OEF/OIF Veterans?

• Activity Number: 224
• Type: Topic Contributed
• Date/Time: Monday, August 5, 2013 : 2:00 PM to 3:50 PM
• Sponsor: Mental Health Statistics Section
• Author(s): Amii Kress*+
• Companies: Department of Veteran Affairs
• Keywords: Veteran ; War ; Suicide ; Military ; Iraq ; Afghanistan

Abstract

This study assessed the risk of suicide among US Veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and to determine if time elapsed since separation/deactivation from the military influences their risk of suicide. The incidence of suicide for over one million OEF/OIF Veterans separated/deactivated from military service since September 2001 was evaluated and compared to that of the US general population. The overall crude suicide rate was 22 per 100,000 person years at risk. Compared to the general US population Veterans had approximately a 20% excess of suicide. Over one-third of the suicides in this cohort occurred within the first year following separation/deactivation; however, there was not a statistically significant trend in incidence rate of suicide with time since separation/deactivation. Based on the number of suicides within the first year, this time immediately following separation/deactivation should include targeted suicide prevention efforts.