Discussion Post: Military Personnel and Suicide
Serving in the military comes with a great deal of stress and crisis. It can range from combat duty to multiple deployments, concerns about family, and physical health to name a few.
There is a stark reality with military service and veterans that suicide and suicidal ideations occur and have increased since 2006. What are the contributing factors of this increase in completed suicides and suicidal ideations? Are veterans more likely to hurt themselves than active duty personnel? For this Discussion, review this week's resources and consider how helping professionals, military installations, the Department of Defense, or community outreach programs might help to change negative perceptions about suicide.
Post one risk factor that contributes to suicide risk for active duty military personnel and veterans. Include whether you think active military or veterans are at a higher risk for suicide and why.
• Explain how helping professionals, military commands, or the Department of Defense can change the negative perceptions of military and veterans seeking help for suicide risk.
• Finally, explain one prevention method you might develop to increase awareness about active military or veteran suicide risk and explain why this might be effective.
Select one article from Walden Library to support your response.
The response must include a reference list. Using Times New Roman 12 pnt font, double-space, one-inch margins, and APA style of writing and citations.
Note: To access this week's required library resources, please click on the link to the Course Readings List, found in the Course Materials section of your Syllabus.
Required Readings
• Dick, G. (2014). Social work practice with veterans. Washington, D.C.: NASW Press.
o Chapter 12, "Veterans and Suicide" (pp. 187-204)
• Rubin, A., Weiss, E.L., & Coll, J.E. (2013). Handbook of military social work. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley.
o Chapter 14, "Suicide in the Military" (pp. 225-244)
• Pryce, J. G., Pryce, D. H., & Shakelford, K. K. (2012). The costs of courage: Combat stress, warriors, and family survival. Chicago, IL: Lyceum Books.
The costs of courage: Combat stress, warriors, and family survival (1st Ed.), by Pryce, J.G., Pryce, Col. D.H. & Shakleford, K.K. Copyright 2012 by Lyceum Books, Inc. Reprinted by permission of Lyceum Books, Inc., via the Copyright Clearance Center.
o Chapter 5, "Suicide and the Warrior"
• Harmon, L. M., Cooper, R. L., Nugent, W. R., & Butcher, J. J. (2016). A review of the effectiveness of military suicide prevention programs in reducing rates of military suicides. Journal Of Human Behavior In The Social Environment, 26(1), 15-24.
• Blosnich, J. R., Brown, G. R., Shipherd, J. C., Kauth, M., Piegari, R., & Bossarte, R. M. (2013). Prevalence of gender identity disorder and suicide risk among transgender veterans utilizing veterans health administration care. Journal of Public Health, 103(10), 27-32.
• Hyman, J., Ireland, R., Frost, L., & Cottrell, L. (2012). Suicide incidence and risk factors in an active duty US military population. American Journal of Public Health, 102(Supply).