Suicide in the Military: A Scoping Review

• In Event: Health Criminology Panel 1: Premature Mortality

Abstract

There is a robust body of literature that examines suicide and suicidal ideation in the military context. These studies have proliferated in recent years. In response to the recent surge in research on this topic, we conduct a scoping review to establish key findings, identify existing gaps in knowledge, and propose a research agenda for future studies. First, we examine the prevalence of suicide in the military, including differences in prevalence based on branch and status (e.g., veteran vs active-duty). Second, we explore the predictors included in the existing body of research, with a particular focus on the relationship between interpersonal victimization and suicide. Third, we provide avenues for future research that include a discussion of groups omitted in the current literature (e.g., reservists) as well as known correlates in the larger literature on suicide that are not often included in the literature specific to the military (e.g., family history of suicide).

Authors

• Jacquelyn Burckley, University of South Florida

• Ráchael Powers, University of South Florida

• Frances Abderhalden, California State University, Los Angeles