As a Suicide Prevention Subject Matter Expert, most of my time these days is spent learning and sharing information to prevent suicide among military-connected individuals. That focus means I’m not always up to date on the evolving landscape of substance use disorders (SUDs), risk management, and treatment.
Hopefully, the title hooked you. Now what am I talking about? And who is “us”? The “what” is conversations about firearm safety and suicide prevention. The “who” is healthcare providers. Let’s take a few steps back…
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.
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.
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.