Kapur et al, 2009

There have been few systematic investigations of suicide in those who have left the UK Armed Forces. This was a 10-year retrospective cohort study of suicide in a cohort of almost 234,000 individuals who had left the UK Armed Forces between 1996 and 2005.

In this cohort, 224 (0.1%) veterans died by suicide. Although the overall rate of suicide was not greater than in the general population, we found the risk of suicide in young men (aged <25 years) who had left the UK Armed Forces was around 2 to 3 times higher than in the general and serving populations of the same age.

Preventive strategies might include practical and psychological preparation for discharge and encouraging appropriate help-seeking behaviour once individuals have left service.

Read the full paper:

• Suicide after leaving the UK armed forces – a cohort study (PLOS Medicine)

Related