Suicide among justice-involved veterans: a brief overview of extant research, theoretical conceptualization, and recommendations for future research

ABSTRACT

Both justice-involved individuals and veterans are at elevated risk for suicide. Despite this, research examining the intersection between justice involvement and veteran status has been limited. In addition, factors which drive risk for suicidal self-directed violence (i.e. suicide attempt, suicide) among justice-involved veterans remain understudied. This paper serves as a brief overview of extant literature regarding potential psychosocial factors which may drive suicide risk in this population. Additionally, the Interpersonal-Psychological Theory of Suicide is applied to posit specific factors underlying justice-involved veterans’ risk for suicidal self-directed violence. Finally, given the limited suicide-focused research specific to justice-involved veterans, we propose specific directions that are needed for subsequent research. In particular, further examination of a conceptual model of suicide risk in this population, as well as methods for intervening on identified risk factors, remain necessary to effectively prevent suicide in this understudied population of veterans.

KEYWORDS:

• Veteran
• justice-involved
• suicide
• mental health
• Interpersonal-Psychological Theory of Suicide

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ryan Holliday

Ryan Holliday is a Clinical Research Psychologist and Investigator in the Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center for Veteran Suicide Prevention.

W. Blake Martin

Blake Martin is a graduate research assistant at the VA North Texas Health Care System and a doctoral student in clinical psychology at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. His research interests include suicide prevention in populations with increased risk, and examining modifiable factors that may protect against suicidal self-directed violence.

Lindsey L. Monteith

Lindsey L. Monteith is a Clinical Research Psychologist and Investigator in the Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center for Veteran Suicide Prevention.

Sean C. Clark

Sean Clark serves as National Director, Veterans Justice Programs in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

James P. LePage

James P. LePage is a clinical psychologist and the Associate Chief of Staff for Research and Development at the VA North Texas Health Care System.