Life after loss: Comparing student service member/veteran and civilian mental health characteristics among individuals exposed to death by suicide

Abstract

Objective: This study evaluated the mental health characteristics and beliefs of student service members/veterans (SSM/Vs) who have been exposed to another’s death by suicide.

Participants: A total of 39 SSM/Vs exposed to suicide and 32 SSM/Vs not exposed to suicide were sampled from a larger, epidemiological survey. An age- and gender-matched group of 39 civilian (C) students was drawn from a larger sample of individuals exposed to suicide.

Methods: Data were collected as part of an Internet-based, campus needs survey that occurred in Fall 2014. Participants were asked to complete measures about suicide-related behaviors, suicide prevention, help-seeking, and demographics.

Results: SSM/Vs exposed to suicide had more positive mental health/suicide prevention beliefs than SSM/Vs not exposed to suicide. Cs exposed to suicide were not significantly different from either group. Unique help-seeking patterns were also identified.

Conclusions: The current study identifies unique characteristics of SSM/Vs exposed to suicide that may inform prevention programming.

Keywords:

• Counseling
• health education
• mental health
• suicide
• veterans

Acknowledgement/required statements

The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the Department of Veterans Affairs or the United States government.

Conflict of interest disclosure

The authors have no conflicts of interest in relation to this study.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by a SAMHSA Garret Lee Smith Campus Suicide Prevention Initiative Grant (1U79SM061454-01). This material is also the result of work supported with resources and the use of facilities at the VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR. Completion of this project would not have been possible without support from research staff at the University of South Florida Alliance and Suicide Prevention Lab. Center for Mental Health Services.