Veterans, Firearms, and Suicide: Safe Storage Prevention Policy and the PREVENTS Roadmap

Lemle, Russell

doi:10.12788/fp.0041

Cited by 6 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…Almost half (46%) of our sample screened positive for current suicidal ideation; however, the severity of suicidal ideation did not differ depending on trauma type. These results are consistent with past work demonstrating high prevalence rates of suicidal ideation and attempts in Veterans (Kachadourian et al, 2022; Lemle, 2020; Nichter et al, 2021). Thus, although interpersonal trauma may increase severity of PTSD and depression symptoms which is related to suicidal ideation (Arenson et al, 2018; Forehand et al, 2019; Herzog et al, 2022), suicide screening should occur in all FVets who have experienced trauma in general.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Characterizing the Influence of Exposure to Military Sexual Trauma and Intimate Partner Violence on Mental Health Outcomes among Female Veterans

Esopenko

Souza

Wilde

et al. 2023

J Interpers Violence

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Military sexual trauma (MST) has deleterious long-term psychological consequences. Among female U.S. military members, MST is associated with increased risk for future interpersonal victimization, such as experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV). Few studies have investigated the implications of the cumulative effects of IPV and MST on psychological functioning. This study examined rates of co-exposure to MST, IPV, and their cumulative impact on psychological symptoms. Data were collected from 308 female Veterans (FVets; age: M = 42, SD = 10.4) enrolled in an inpatient trauma-focused treatment program in a Veterans Administration (VA) hospital. Data were collected at program admission on symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and current suicidal ideation. Lifetime trauma exposure was assessed using semi-structured interviews that identified adverse childhood events (ACEs) and combat theater deployment as well as MST and IPV. Group differences on psychological symptoms were examined among those exposed to MST, IPV, MST + IPV, and compared to FVets with ACEs or combat exposure, but no other adulthood interpersonal trauma (NAIT). Half of the sample (51%) reported experiencing both MST and IPV, approximately 29% reported MST, 10% reported IPV, and 10% reported NAIT. FVets in the MST + IPV group had worse PTSD and depression symptoms than either the MST or IPV groups. The NAIT group had the lowest scores on these measures. There were no group differences in current suicidal ideation; however, 53.5% reported at least one previous suicide attempt. FVets in this sample reported significant lifetime exposure to MST and IPV, with the majority having experienced MST + IPV. Exposure to MST + IPV was associated with greater PTSD and depression symptom severity, yet an overwhelming proportion reported current and past suicidal ideation regardless of trauma exposure history. These results demonstrate the importance of assessing for lifetime interpersonal trauma history when developing and providing mental and medical health interventions for FVets.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Characterizing the Influence of Exposure to Military Sexual Trauma and Intimate Partner Violence on Mental Health Outcomes among Female Veterans

Esopenko

Souza

Wilde

et al. 2023

J Interpers Violence

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“…Even though rapid reductions in firearm ownership do not seem likely in the United States for historical, political, social, and legal reasons ( 1 , 14 , 60 ), increasing evidence supports alternative methods to reduce access to firearms during suicidal crises. For instance, safe firearm storage interventions ( 31 , 82 , 108 ) have been designed, implemented ( 106 , 112 ), and trialed ( 81 ) and are included in current evidence-based suicide-specific counseling programs ( 67 , 105 , 111 ). Also, red-flag and seizure laws—which allow for temporary prohibitions of firearm purchase or possession ( https://www.ny.gov/programs/red-flag-gun-protection-law )—seem effective ( 62 ) and are supported by the majority of the US population ( 94 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Recent Rise of Suicide Mortality in the United States

Martínez-Alés

Jiang

Keyes

et al. 2022

Annu. Rev. Public Health

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Suicide is a major public health concern in the United States. Between 2000 and 2018, US suicide rates increased by 35%, contributing to the stagnation and subsequent decrease in US life expectancy. During 2019, suicide declined modestly, mostly owing to slight reductions in suicides among Whites. Suicide rates, however, continued to increase or remained stable among all other racial/ethnic groups, and little is known about recent suicide trends among other vulnerable groups. This article ( a) summarizes US suicide mortality trends over the twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, ( b) reviews potential group-level causes of increased suicide risk among subpopulations characterized by markers of vulnerability to suicide, and ( c) advocates for combining recent advances in population-based suicide prevention with a socially conscious perspective that captures the social, economic, and political contexts in which suicide risk unfolds over the life course of vulnerable individuals. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Public Health, Volume 43 is April 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

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“…While multi-faceted suicide prevention efforts are essential, our findings suggest that assessing for access to lethal means of suicide-including firearms-as part of suicide risk assessment is particularly important in the context and aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, considering that a substantial portion of women Veterans described engaging in behaviors that increased the accessibility of their firearms, emphasis on initiatives to safely store household firearms [63][64][65] is likely even more important during and following the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the salience of fear and the perceived need for protection in driving women Veterans' firearm behaviors during the pandemic, identifying ways to assuage such fears and facilitate safety and protection in the context of recent national and global events is essential.…”

Section: Plos Onementioning

confidence: 99%

“Feel the need to prepare for Armageddon even though I do not believe it will happen”: Women Veterans’ Firearm Beliefs and Behaviors during the COVID-19 Pandemic, Associations with Military Sexual Assault and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms

Monteith

Miller²,

Polzer³

et al. 2023

PLoS ONE

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Aims Firearm purchasing increased within the U.S. during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. While rates of firearm ownership and suicide are elevated among women Veterans compared to women non-Veterans, no studies have examined if and how firearm beliefs and behaviors changed among women Veterans during the pandemic. We examined women Veterans’ changes in firearm beliefs and engagement in firearm behaviors during the early pandemic era. Method 3,000 post-9/11 era women Veterans were invited to participate in a survey. 501 respondents (May-December 2020) comprised the sample for this concurrent nested mixed-method analysis. Thematic analysis and log-binomial regression were used. Results 13.88% (n = 69) of women Veterans in our sample reported changes in their firearm beliefs; 22.15% (n = 109) reported engaging in firearm behaviors. The most prevalent reported behaviors were making household firearms more accessible (16.13%) and purchasing ammunition (11.97%). Smaller percentages reported carrying a firearm more frequently (6.71%), loading previously unloaded firearms (5.69%), or purchasing a firearm (4.24%). Thematic analysis suggested firearm behaviors were likely driven by a perceived increased need to protect oneself, family, and property due to: (1) uncertainties brought on by the pandemic; (2) pandemic-related threats necessitating self-defense, preparedness, and self-sufficiency; (3) political, social, and racial unrest and protests. PTSD symptom severity and military sexual assault history were associated with higher prevalence of changes in firearm beliefs and engagement in firearm behaviors during the pandemic. Discussion Consideration of women Veterans’ prior experiences and pandemic-related factors may be necessary to contextualize firearm discussions and inform future research. Given associations of military sexual assault and PTSD symptoms with firearm beliefs and behaviors, it may be crucial to ensure that such discussion are trauma-informed.

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Veterans, Firearms, and Suicide: Safe Storage Prevention Policy and the PREVENTS Roadmap

Cited by 6 publications

References 45 publications

Characterizing the Influence of Exposure to Military Sexual Trauma and Intimate Partner Violence on Mental Health Outcomes among Female Veterans

Characterizing the Influence of Exposure to Military Sexual Trauma and Intimate Partner Violence on Mental Health Outcomes among Female Veterans

The Recent Rise of Suicide Mortality in the United States

“Feel the need to prepare for Armageddon even though I do not believe it will happen”: Women Veterans’ Firearm Beliefs and Behaviors during the COVID-19 Pandemic, Associations with Military Sexual Assault and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms

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