Why Are Veterans at Higher Risk for Suicide?
- Samantha
- 2 hours ago
- 5 min read
For many people, the fact that Veterans face a higher risk of suicide may not come as a surprise. Some may know a Veteran who has struggled with mental health, suicidal thoughts, or the challenges of transitioning from military to civilian life.
But simply recognizing that Veterans are at increased risk does not explain why.
Veteran suicide is a complex issue influenced by many factors, including mental health, physical health, social connection, military experiences, access to care, and the challenges that can come with life after service.
One framework that can help us understand suicidal thoughts and behavior is the Interpersonal-Psychological Theory of Suicide, developed by psychologist Thomas Joiner.
Understanding the Interpersonal-Psychological Theory of Suicide
Thomas Joiner’s theory proposes that suicidal behavior involves several distinct factors. In simplified terms, a person may experience a desire for suicide while also developing a capability for suicide. The theory identifies three important components: thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, and acquired capability for suicide.
This framework is important because experiencing suicidal thoughts does not mean that someone will necessarily attempt suicide. Similarly, a person can experience circumstances that increase their capability for suicidal behavior without experiencing suicidal thoughts at that particular time.
Understanding the difference can help us better understand why certain Veterans may face increased risk.
Thwarted Belongingness: Feeling Like You Don't Belong
Thwarted belongingness refers to feeling disconnected from other people or believing that you don't truly belong within your family, community, social group, or other important relationships.
This can look like:
Feeling isolated or alone
Having few meaningful relationships
Feeling disconnected from friends or family
Having little or no social support
Feeling as though you no longer fit into your community
For Veterans, these feelings can sometimes emerge during or after the transition from military to civilian life.
Military service can create a strong sense of identity, purpose, teamwork, and belonging. Leaving that environment can be a significant adjustment. A Veteran may suddenly find themselves separated from people who shared their experiences and placed in a civilian environment where others may not understand what they have been through.
That loss of connection can contribute to feelings of isolation.
Perceived Burdensomeness: Feeling Like a Burden
The second component is perceived burdensomeness—the belief that you are a burden on the people around you.
A person experiencing perceived burdensomeness may believe that their family, friends, or community would be better off without them.
Factors that can contribute to these feelings may include:
Serious illness or injury
Chronic pain
Disability
Mental health challenges
Financial difficulties
Loss of employment
Difficulty caring for oneself or others
These experiences do not automatically lead to suicidal thoughts. However, when someone begins to believe that their circumstances make them a burden to others, the emotional impact can be significant.
Research on the Interpersonal-Psychological Theory of Suicide has found associations between perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness, and suicidal ideation, although the strength of these relationships varies across studies.
What Are the Risk Factors for Veteran Suicide?
Suicide risk is influenced by many factors, and no single factor can predict whether someone will die by suicide.
For Veterans, potential risk factors can include:
Social isolation or lack of social support
Financial instability
Employment difficulties
Serious illness or injury
Chronic pain
Loss of a loved one
Mental health challenges
Trauma and exposure to violence
Difficulties transitioning from military to civilian life
The Department of Veterans Affairs continues to identify several characteristics associated with elevated suicide risk among Veterans, including homelessness, health problems, and pain.
Importantly, having one or more of these risk factors does not mean a person will die by suicide. Risk factors are indicators of increased vulnerability, not predictions of an individual's future.
Acquired Capability: When Repeated Exposure Changes a Person's Response to Pain and Fear
Joiner's theory also identifies a third component: acquired capability for suicide.
The theory proposes that repeated exposure to painful or frightening experiences can reduce a person's fear of death and increase their tolerance for physical pain. Over time, these experiences may contribute to greater capability for suicidal behavior.
Examples of painful or provocative experiences discussed in research include:
Combat exposure
Serious accidents
Childhood abuse or neglect
Previous suicide attempts
Other experiences involving significant physical pain or fear
This concept is particularly relevant when considering the experiences of some Veterans.
Military service can expose individuals to combat, trauma, injury, death, and other highly stressful or dangerous situations. These experiences do not mean that a Veteran will develop suicidal thoughts or behavior. However, they can be important factors to consider when evaluating suicide risk.
Why Can Veterans Be at Increased Risk for Suicide?
The risk of suicide among Veterans cannot be explained by one experience or one diagnosis.
Instead, risk can develop through the interaction of multiple factors.
A Veteran may experience trauma or physical injury during military service. After leaving the military, they may struggle with chronic pain, PTSD symptoms, employment, finances, relationships, or the loss of the community and identity they experienced during their service.
These challenges can contribute to feelings of not belonging or being a burden.
At the same time, previous exposure to painful or frightening experiences may be relevant to the concept of acquired capability described in Joiner's theory.
When these factors overlap, suicide risk may increase.
This is one reason why Veteran suicide prevention requires a comprehensive approach. Understanding a Veteran's mental health is important, but so is understanding their physical health, relationships, social support, financial circumstances, military experiences, and transition to civilian life.
Veteran Mental Health and Suicide Prevention
Preventing Veteran suicide begins with recognizing that there is no single explanation for why someone becomes suicidal.
It also means recognizing that suicide risk can change.
Strengthening social connections, addressing mental and physical health concerns, reducing isolation, treating pain and other health problems, and connecting Veterans with appropriate resources can all be important components of suicide prevention.
Most importantly, Veterans should not have to navigate these challenges alone. At NCHP in our Best is Yet to Come Program, we walk alongside Veterans, Active Duty and their families as they navigate their mental health and work to increase and improve the protective factors they have against suicide.
This is made possible through the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program.
Learn More About Veteran Suicide Prevention
What does effective suicide prevention look like for Veterans?
In our upcoming webinar, Veteran Suicide Prevention, we will explore the unique factors that can contribute to suicide risk among Veterans and discuss considerations for preventing suicide in this important population.
Date: Wednesday, September 9th
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Registration: Free, but registration is required
Visit this link here for more information and to register.
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger or experiencing a suicide crisis, call or text 988 and press 1 to reach the Veterans Crisis Line. You can also seek emergency medical care or call 911 when there is an immediate danger.
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