One study reported a suicide rate of 27.9 per 100,000 person years at risk (PYR) among a group of former active duty OEF/OIF veterans through 2009 (Kang et al., 2015), while another study reported a suicide rate of 26.1 per 100,000 PYR among both former active and reserve/National Guard OEF/OIF veterans (Reger et al., 2015). While many recent research efforts on veteran suicides are inclusive of all veteran suicides, other studies focused on veterans who deployed as part of OEF/OIF. A 2018 VA report that examined veteran suicide rates over time, reported that annual suicide rates for both veterans and non-veterans increased between 20, with rates among veterans remaining higher than those of non-veterans (US Department of Veterans Affairs, 2018). In 2012 the VA released a report enumerating veteran suicides, included among the findings: there were 18 to 22 veteran suicides a day between 19 (US Department of Veterans Affairs, 2012). Included in these efforts, was an attempt to identify the extent of veteran suicides among those deployed as part of Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation New Dawn (OEF/OIF/OND) and among all veterans in general. Strategies that emphasize lethal means safety, an evidence based suicide prevention strategy which includes increasing safe storage practices (i.e., storing firearms unloaded and locked) can help address this increased risk of veteran suicide.įollowing a 2007 CBS news report about high rates of suicide among veterans (Keteyian, 2007), various legislative initiatives were passed that provided a framework for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) efforts to prevent/reduce veteran suicides (Bullman and Kang, 2013). Veterans will benefit from enhanced access to mental health services and initiatives to promote suicide prevention. ConclusionsĪll OEF/OIF/OND veterans have an increased risk of suicide compared to non-veterans. Among all veteran suicides 68.3% involved a firearm, including 68.7% among males and 59.5% among females. Male veterans had an almost 3-fold increased risk compared to female veterans, (HR = 2.85 95%, C.I., 2.47,3.29). Active duty veterans had an increased risk of suicide compared to reserve/National Guard veterans, (HR = 1.22 95%, C.I., 1.14,1.30). Both male and female veterans had an increased risk of suicide when compared to their gender specific non-veteran counterparts, (SMR = 1.40 95%, C.I., 1.36,1.45 and SMR = 1.85 95%, C.I., 1.60,2.13), respectively. There was an increased risk of suicide when all OEF/OIF/OND Veterans were compared to the US population, (SMR = 1.42 95%, C.I., 1.38,1.46). Risk of suicide among active duty compared to reserve/National Guard veterans and male compared to female veterans was assessed with hazard ratios (HR) s, generated by Cox proportional hazards models, that included the covariates race, age, marital status, rank, and branch of service. reserve/National Guard) to the expected based on the US population adjusted for age, race, sex, and calendar year. Suicide risk was first assessed using standardized mortality ratios (SMR)s, comparing the rate of suicide among all veterans, both collectively and separately by gender and unit component (active vs. Vital status and cause of death through 2016 was obtained from the Mortality Data Repository, which obtains data from the National Death Index. The study cohort was identified from records of the US Department of Defense. Firearm related suicide was also briefly examined.
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This study assessed suicide risk among OEF/OIF/OND veterans by gender and unit component.
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There has been concern about the risk of suicide among veterans returning from deployment to Afghanistan and Iraq as part of Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation New Dawn (OEF/OIF/OND).