Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion
Veterans and Suicide Vulnerability
Photo for illustrative purposes only @iStock/Mie Ahmt
CHERP Investigator John Blosnich, PhD, was invited by JAMA Psychiatry to co-author, with co-investigator Robert Bossarte, PhD, an editorial about an article in the journal reporting recent research on links between a history of child abuse and suicide among Canadian military veterans and citizens. The Canadian study showed that childhood trauma may be more closely linked to suicide risk than trauma experienced during their military deployment. Dr. Blosnich published similar findings in 2014 based on a survey of U.S. adults. Both studies revealed that individuals who join the military are more likely to report being victims of child abuse.
The editorial and article appear in the January 27, 2016 issue.
Excerpt from the editorial:
“Consequently, it makes one wonder if some soldiers had been on a battlefield long before they ever enlisted in the military. Epidemiologic studies need to gather relevant information, such as histories of childhood abuse, that can better inform us as to which individuals may have potent risk factors for poor health in general and suicide risk in particular.”
CHERP Investigator Melissa Dichter, PhD, MSW, was also Co-Investigator with Dr. Blosnich on the 2014 study. Their article Disparities in adverse childhood experiences among individuals with a history of military service appeared in the September 2014 issue of JAMA Psychiatry. Link to article in PubMed.
Reuters Health also published a feature story about the work.
The contents of this article and this web site do not reflect the views of the Department of Veterans Affairs or the United States government.
