Deployment Psychology Blog

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

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.

Guest Perspective: Exploring Psychological Pathways in Education, Military, and Justice Systems

Harmony Hill

This summer I had the incredible opportunity to step into three different professional roles to gain insight into what it means to be a psychologist for the military. My name is Harmony and I am a high school senior from Oklahoma with a deep interest in Psychology. I hope to earn a Ph.D. in psychology, and after that, I want to focus on forensic psychology. Over the summer, I worked closely with the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP), served as a junior teaching assistant (TA) for Dr. Patrick DeLeon’s public policy class, and volunteered at the Verizon Youth summer program, all while touring colleges in preparation for fall applications.

Research Update: 4 September 2025

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The weekly Research Update contains the latest news, journal articles, and useful links from around the web. Some of this week's topics include:
● Suicidal Behavior in US Army Special Operations Forces.
● Firearms, alcohol, suicide, and intimate partner violence perpetration among service members: Military partner experiences.
● Traumatic Brain Injury and Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors among Post-9/11 Veterans: Investigating Longitudinal Change and Interactions with Mental Health.

Staff Perspective: When the Doctor Becomes the Patient - Recent Publications and a Selection of Resources for Moral Injury in Military Health Care Workers

Dr. Jenny Phillips

While the condition of moral injury (MI) has been frequently studied in military populations, the impact of MI on military health care providers has been relatively overlooked in the research literature. This blog shares information from two recent publications, a narrative review and a qualitative study, that provide new information and insight into how MI is experienced by military providers. We also highlight information and select resources available for those experiencing or working with health care workers with MI.

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