Deployment Psychology Blog

Staff Perspective: Protective Factors for Veterans at Risk for Suicide

By Marjorie Weinstock  on 17.09.2025 12:04 pm

In our suicide prevention trainings at CDP, we discuss current theories of suicide risk, specifically emphasizing those of that fall within the “ideation-to-action framework” (Klonsky & May, 2016). This framework posits that the development of suicidal ideation and the progression from ideation to suicide attempts are distinct processes with distinct explanations. In conjunction with this discussion, we also spend a substantial amount of time talking about risk and protective factors, both in the civilian population and among military-connected individuals.

By the Numbers: 15 Septemeber 2025

By Shirl Kennedy  on 15.09.2025 10:16 am

13x
The factor by which "(o)lder men are more likely to die by firearm suicide compared with older women," according to an article in JAMA Network Open -- Sex Differences in Trends of Firearm Suicide Among Older Adults, 2014 to 2023. "However," the article points out, "female gun ownership has surged in recent years, with nearly one-half of all new gun owners being women.

Research Update: 11 September 2025

By Shirl Kennedy  on 11.09.2025 10:56 am
Research Update Icon

The weekly Research Update contains the latest news, journal articles, and useful links from around the web. Some of this week's topics include:
● Suicide Rate Trends for Post-September 11, 2001, US Military Veterans.
● A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effect of deployment and combat exposures on suicide attempts and deaths.
● Temporal dynamics of the wish to live and wish to die signal near-term increases in suicidal thinking in a veteran sample.

Staff Perspective: A Deeper Look at the Connections Between Stress, Trauma, and Suicide in Young Adults: New Research Findings

By Linda Thompson  on 10.09.2025 11:09 am
Dr. Linda Thompson

Suicide is a serious public health concern, especially for young adults who have experienced trauma. While a history of trauma can be a risk factor for suicide, we have a limited understanding of the specific mechanisms through which stress responses might contribute to this heightened risk. In a recent study, my colleagues and I investigated the links between suicidal thoughts and behaviors, and how individuals respond emotionally and physically to stress.

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