Drivers of suicidal ideation among Greek military personnel

ABSTRACT

Background and Objectives: The aim of this study is to explore the effects of drug use, alcohol use, and psychiatric conditions on suicidal ideation among Greek military personnel. Design and Methods: A quantitative correlational survey design was applied, using data collected between January and September 2014 in the 414 Army Hospital in Athens. A number of officers and soldiers (n = 155) who were outpatients of the military psychiatric department completed a self-assessment questionnaire (CISQ-1 Triantafyllou, F., Giotakos, O., Tsouvelas, G., & Athanasiadou, A. (2014). CISQ-1: Primary findings from the questionnaire for the detection of critical psychopathological indicators in military personnel. E-poster presented at the World Federation for Mental Health Congress ‘Living with Schizophrenia’, Athens, Greece), which primarily focuses on the detection of critical psychopathological indicators and suicidal thoughts. An additional diagnosis was made by a psychiatrist. Results: A regression model revealed that participants who use drugs were more likely to exhibit suicidal thoughts. Moreover, those with affective disorders were more likely to exhibit suicidal ideation compared to persons with a negative diagnosis. The ones who drink occasionally were also more likely to display suicidal thoughts. Furthermore, in our predictive model affective disorder, personality disorder, and drug use associated with low wages were the strongest factors related to suicidal ideation. Conclusions: The Greek Armed Forces should undertake concentrated efforts in psychiatric and substances screening and develop suicide prevention programs with a focus on awareness and skill building.

KEYWORDS:

• suicidal ideation
• military personnel
• disorders
• drug use
• alcohol use

Notes on contributors

Alexandros Vlazakis is a Ph.D candidate in Social Psychology in Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH). He graduated with Honours from the Military School of Combat Support Officers and the Department of Psychology of AUTH. He holds Msc in Health Psychology (University of Ulster) and in Political Science and Sociology (National and Kapodistrian University of Athens – with Honours). He currently works in 414 Military Psychiatric Hospital as a psychologist. His main fields of interest are: Ideological mechanisms in social movements and protest, critical views in social psychology, sociology of mental health, mental health and prevention programs in military population.

Andreas Zachariadis is a Social Psychologist (PhD). He holds a Master's degree in Cultural Management (Panteion University, Athens), a Bachelor degree in Psychology (Panteion University, Athens) and a Bachelor degree in Sociology (Panteion University, Athens). He is Adjunct Lecturer at the Technological University of Athens and at the Military School of Non-Commissioned Officers. His research interests include social influence, social representations and psychopathology.

Julie Papastamatelou (PhD) holds a Master's degree in Social Sciences (University of Mannheim, Germany). She has further pursued a Master's degree in Criminal Justice Studies (University of Portsmouth, UK) a Master's degree in Criminology (University of Bern, Switzerland) and a Master's degree in European Union Studies (University of Salzburg, Austria). She is currently a Research Fellow at the International Center for the Study of Violent Extremism (ICSVE) and is working as Lecturer and Researcher at the University of Ludwigshafen (Germany).

Fotini Athanasiadou is a PhD candidate in the field of Mental Health and Behavioral Science. She has pursued undergraduate studies in the School of Nursing of the Greek Armed forces. In addition, she has pursued undergraduate studies in Italian and Spanish Philology. Furthermore, she holds a Master's degree in the field of Mental Health.

Orestis Giotakos is the former Director of the Psychiatric Clinic of the Army Hospital of Athens. He graduated in 1985 from the Military Medical School, University of Thessaloniki, Greece, and he has been working as a Military Psychiatrist since 1992. In 1998, he obtained a M.Sc. in Neuroscience at the Institute of Psychiatry, University of London. In 2003 he received his doctorate at the Medical School, University of Athens. He is the founder of the non-profit organization ‘obrela – Neuroscience & Mental Health' (www.obrela.gr). He has conducted several investigations and has written a number of articles and books on psychopathology and prevention strategies.

Additional information

Funding

No financial support was received for this study.