Putting Suicide Policy through the Wringer: Perspectives of Military Members Who Attempted to Kill Themselves

Abstract

In response to the Air Force Surgeon General, Lieutenant General Mark Ediger’s call for medical services to be guided by service members’ values, preferences, and experiences within the medical system, we conducted an interpretive phenomenological analysis of transcripts in which service members shared their experiences of military mental health policy and practices after being identified as suicidal. Themes of their experiences underscore nuances as it relates to intersectionality of policy when faced with unique military contextual factors and power differentials; both of which were missing in available research literature. Their experiences also illuminate further the innate “Catch 22” which happens when accessing help. Catch 22 basically means if you know you need help than you are rational; but if you actually seek help, then you are crazy and not trustworthy to do your job. Themes presented center on the lack of confidentiality of Service Members in the Workplace, effects of Unit Members’ Surveillance and Command Directed Evaluations, and experiences of Military Mental Health Services. Critical discussions of policy and taken for granted assumptions that often drive narrow responses to suicide, treatment, prevention, and stigma are presented. Particular attention is given to the lived experiences of service members when placed under the demands of circumstances created by policy that may inadvertently lead in some cases to further suffering. The paper closes with recommendations from participants and the authors for policy makers and future directions in research.

Israeli soldiers' intentions and actions toward seeking mental health help: Barriers and facilitators

“…Put together, these findings may be explained by the concern of combat soldiers that mental health care will have negative implications for their functioning in the military. Indeed, previous studies highlight the concern that the stigma attached to seeking help would make commanders and peers perceive help‐seeking as an excuse to evade certain unwelcome military chores or as being weak and unfit to be in the team unit (Bryan et al, 2012 ; Hom et al, 2017 ; LeFeber & Solorzano, 2019 ; Zinzow et al, 2013 ).…”

“…Various variables may act as facilitators or barriers to seeking help. It is necessary to identify these variables to be able to assess at‐risk populations, specifically in the military (Elnitsky et al, 2013 ; LeFeber & Solorzano, 2019 ).…”

Strengthening Workforce Resilience in U.S. Space Command

“…The literature shows that leadership should also address the key barriers to helpseeking and enhance the facilitators of care. Barriers to seeking help include logistical issues, mental health stigmas, and concerns about confidentiality and leader and coworker perceptions (Hamilton, Coleman, and Davis, 2017;LeFeber and Solorzano, 2019). Facilitators of care include leadership, family, and friends (Hom et al, 2017).…”

The Role of Past Suicidal Behavior on Current Suicidality: A Retrospective Study in the Israeli Military

“…This reluctance is most likely due to both the sense of pride that the soldiers embrace and the fear of reporting depression and hopelessness, since that could jeopardize their potential for promotion [ 25 , 26 ]. Perceived stigma surrounding psychiatric disorders in the military is also a barrier to help-seeking [ 27 , 28 ]. The combination of these factors may explain why many individuals with a known history of past suicidal ideation or behavior never seek or receive psychological help in the military [ 14 , 29 , 30 ].…”