The Impact of Varying Levels of Confidentiality on Disclosure of Suicidal Thoughts in a Sample of United States National Guard Personnel

Abstract

The results indicate that increasing the confidentiality of risk assessments within the National Guard increases the likelihood of reporting of current thoughts of suicide.

Anxiety sensitivity and suicide risk among firefighters: A test of the depression-distress amplification model

“…This may, in part, explain the relatively lower depression symptoms, AS concerns, and suicide risk scores in this sample compared to previous firefighter investigations; as noted above, this fire department has also proactively provisioned internal suicide prevention efforts [65]. Another related issue is that the firefighters in the present sample were all active duty and thus may have underreported psychiatric symptoms due to fears of negative job ramifications [66]. Relatedly, the variances accounted for by our models were modest, accounting for b20% of the variance in SBQ-R suicide risk.…”

“…An alternative yet compatible explanation for the relatively lower rates of suicidal symptoms found in this study is that the sample was composed exclusively of active duty firefighters, and active duty firefighters may underreport symptoms due to fears of being considered unfit for duty [66]. …”

The interpersonal theory of suicide: A systematic review and meta-analysis of a decade of cross-national research.

“…More work is needed to refine and develop behavioral proxies. Though individuals may be more willing to report their feelings of social isolation or perception of being a burden than suicidal ideation (Podlogar et al, 2015), individuals may still be reluctant to disclose this sensitive information due to stigma concerns (Anestis & Green, 2015; Corrigan & Watson, 2002; Hom, Stanley, Podlogar, & Joiner, 2017b; Podlogar et al, 2015). Implicit measurement of suicide-related constructs (e.g., through reaction time-based tasks) may be an effective strategy to circumvent these concerns (Nock & Banaji, 2007; Nock et al, 2010); though, more research is needed on this front, particularly with regard to their utility in military samples (Chiurliza et al, 2016).…”

The Association Between Gun Ownership and Statewide Overall Suicide Rates

“…We propose that means safety works because limiting access to a highly lethal means with which many individuals feel comfortable systematically reduces the capability for suicide (Klonsky & May, ), thereby reducing the potency of suicidal desire and limiting individuals’ ability to transition from suicidal thoughts to suicide attempts. This is vital given that groups more likely to use a gun in a suicide attempt (e.g., older adults, veterans) have also been shown to be less inclined to seek mental health services and are prone to underreporting suicidal ideation (Anestis & Green, ; Cukrowicz, Jahn, Graham, Poindexter, & Williams, ). Taken together, such findings indicate that means safety may work because it takes an already difficult behavior often associated with ambivalent intent and renders it more difficult, thereby lowering the odds that an individual will pursue it or that he or she will die if they make an attempt.…”