Phoenix Australia Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health and Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2021 May;55(5):463-475. doi: 10.1177/0004867421998751. Epub 2021 Mar 16.
The risk of suicide in contemporary serving and ex-serving Australian Defence Force personnel is an area of significant concern, driving government-directed inquiries, community campaigns and most recently, the establishment of a permanent National Commissioner for Defence and Veteran Suicide Prevention. This concern is mirrored in international militaries and despite investment in prevention programmes, suicide is a leading cause of death in military populations. This review seeks to summarise recent findings from Australian research regarding the magnitude and factors associated with suicide and suicidality in contemporary serving and ex-serving Australian Defence Force populations and discusses research findings, implications and future opportunities.
Initial review of the prevalence of suicide and suicidality in the general community and military populations is presented, followed by review of recent research findings pertaining to suicides and suicidal thoughts, plans and attempts in contemporary serving and ex-serving Australian Defence Force personnel. Key findings are presented from the 2010 Australian Defence Force Mental Health and Wellbeing Prevalence Study and the 2015 Transition and Wellbeing Research Programme.
Differences between serving and ex-serving Australian Defence Force cohorts were observed, with rates of completed suicide in ex-serving Australian Defence Force males more than double that of serving Australian Defence Force males, and increased risk for suicidality observed among those who had recently transitioned out of full-time Australian Defence Force service. Risk for increased suicidality and completed suicide is particularly evident for younger males of lower ranks, and those who have been medically discharged.
The findings provide insight into career phases and groups that should be followed-up and targeted for prevention and early intervention programmes, including prior to and several years following transition out of full-time military service. Further research to better understand the factors that influence those who develop suicidal ideation, and those who progress to plans and attempts, will inform a more sophisticated approach to suicide prevention programmes.
当代现役和退役澳大利亚国防军人员的自杀风险是一个令人高度关注的领域，这促使政府进行了调查、开展了社区活动，最近还设立了一个永久性的国防和退伍军人自杀预防国家专员。国际军队也存在同样的担忧，尽管投入了预防计划，但自杀仍是军队人群的主要死因之一。本综述旨在总结澳大利亚近期关于现役和退役澳大利亚国防军人群自杀和自杀意念的规模和相关因素的研究结果，并讨论研究结果、影响和未来机会。
首先介绍了普通人群和军队人群自杀和自杀意念的流行率，然后回顾了最近关于现役和退役澳大利亚国防军人员自杀和自杀意念的研究结果。从 2010 年澳大利亚国防军心理健康和幸福感流行研究和 2015 年过渡和幸福感研究计划中，提出了关键发现。
观察到现役和退役澳大利亚国防军人员之间存在差异，退役澳大利亚国防军男性的自杀完成率是现役澳大利亚国防军男性的两倍多，并且最近从全职澳大利亚国防军服务中过渡出来的人员中观察到自杀意念的风险增加。对于年轻的低级别的男性，以及那些因医疗原因被解雇的男性，自杀意念和自杀的风险增加尤为明显。
这些发现为应进行随访和预防及早期干预计划的职业阶段和群体提供了深入了解，包括在过渡出全职军事服务之前和之后的几年。进一步研究以更好地了解影响那些出现自杀意念的因素，以及那些进展到计划和尝试的因素，将为更复杂的自杀预防计划提供信息。
