Military veterans served our country with strength and dignity. But upon their homecoming, veterans experience many devastating health problems as a result of their service. Those veterans suffering from psychiatric illnesses are at an increased risk for committing suicide.
Researchers at the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and Healthcare System and the University of Michigan discovered that the biggest risk of suicide is among men struggling with bipolar disorder and among women struggling with substance abuse disorders.
Bipolar disorder was more strongly associated with suicide. The researchers looked at the psychiatric and medical records of more than three million military veterans who received care at a VA facility in 1999 and were still alive in 2000. The patients were then followed for the study for the next seven years. During that period, 7,684 veterans killed themselves. Almost half of that number suffered from at least one psychiatric illness, including depression and substance abuse.
"In men, the risk of suicide was greatest for those with bipolar disorder, followed bydepression, substance abuse disorders, schizophrenia, other anxiety disorders and PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder). In women, the greatest risk of suicide was found in those with substance abuse disorders, followed by bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, depression, PTSD and other anxiety disorders."
In the course of the research study, it was learned that many military veterans suffering from psychiatric illness, including depression and substance abuse, were not identified or getting treatment under the VA system. It is thought that this could be because of the social stigma attached to the admittance of a psychiatric illness. It just does not seem to "go" with the image of a military veteran.
