There are many interconnected determinants that contribute to the risk of suicide among military veterans. According to the CDC, suicide “occurs in response to multiple biological, psychological, interpersonal, environmental and societal influences that interact with one another, often over time,” and on various levels: individual, relationship, community, and societal.
Risk Factors at Each Level
Individual level: history of depression and other mental illnesses, hopelessness, substance abuse, certain health conditions, previous suicide attempt, violence victimization and perpetration, and genetic and biological determinants
Relationship level: high conflict or violent relationships, sense of isolation and lack of social support, family/ loved one’s history of suicide, financial and work stress
Community level: inadequate community connectedness, barriers to health care (e.g., lack of access to providers and medications)
Societal level: availability of lethal means of suicide, unsafe media portrayals of suicide, stigma associated with help-seeking and mental illness.
Risk Factors
There are many interconnected determinants that contribute to the risk of suicide among military veterans. According to the CDC, suicide “occurs in response to multiple biological, psychological, interpersonal, environmental and societal influences that interact with one another, often over time,” and on various levels: individual, relationship, community, and societal.
Risk Factors at Each Level