Westhead et al (2025)

Although there have been a number of epidemiological studies of suicide in veterans, there have been few in-depth studies of those who have died. Studies have not explored the relative contribution of pre-service, in-service and post-service factors. Using national databases of discharged personnel and suicide deaths, we identified deaths by suicide in personnel who left the UK Armed Forces (UKAF) between 2007 and 2018. We extracted information on the adversities faced prior to suicide in a random sample of these deaths from official investigations, mostly coroners’ records.

We extracted information on 145 veterans who died by suicide between 2007 and 2018, 134 (92%) were men and 11 (8%) were women. The median age at death was 36 years (21–65 years). 18 (12%) veterans had experienced childhood adversity. Relatively few (10, 7%) experienced trauma relating to deployment on combat operations or had difficulty adjusting to civilian life (6, 4%). Most (140, 97%) veterans had been in contact with support services, particularly primary care (130, 90%), but undertreatment was common with only 10 (5%) veterans having received psychological intervention. Unemployment, alcohol and drug misuse, mental and physical ill health, workplace, housing and relationship problems were common antecedents.

We found veterans experience a range of challenges after leaving the UK Armed Forces, and the most common risk factors for suicide experienced by veterans mirror those reported in the general population (eg, unemployment, alcohol and drug misuse, self-harm); these are open to intervention. We suggest prevention should focus on addressing the needs of veterans beyond mental ill health, like employment and housing.

Read the full paper:

• Observational study of the pre-service vulnerabilities, in-service exposures and post-service antecedents of suicide in veterans of the UK Armed Forces, 2007 – 2018 (BMJ Public Health)

• Watch a short video of the study’s findings (YouTube)

Related