Sarah A Gold, Molly Goodrich, Sybil W Morley, Brady Stephens, John F McCarthy
{"title":"Temporal patterns of Veteran suicide: Variation by season, day of the week, and holidays.","authors":"Sarah A Gold, Molly Goodrich, Sybil W Morley, Brady Stephens, John F McCarthy","doi":"10.1111/sltb.13148","DOIUrl":"10.1111/sltb.13148","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>To assess temporal patterns of Veteran suicide deaths from 2001 to 2021.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Data from Veterans Affairs (VA) and Department of Defense (DoD) administrative sources and the VA/DoD Mortality Data Repository identified 133,867 Veteran suicides from 2001 to 2021. Incidence Rate Ratios (IRRs) and Joinpoint regression assessed patterns of Veteran suicide across seasons, days of the week, and 14 holidays; overall and by sex and age.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Incidence of Veteran suicide was highest in summers and on Mondays. Veteran suicide incidence was lower on six holidays: Martin Luther King Jr. Day (IRR = 0.82, 95% CI = 0.73-0.93), Presidents' Day (IRR = 0.88, 0.78, 0.99), Memorial Day (IRR = 0.89, CI = 0.79-0.99), Labor Day (IRR = 0.88, CI = 0.78-0.98), Thanksgiving (IRR = 0.81, CI = 0.71-0.92), and Christmas (IRR = 0.78, CI = 0.68-0.89). Suicide incidence was elevated on New Year's Day (IRR = 1.17, CI = 1.05-1.31), particularly among Veterans 25-34 years old (IRR = 1.64, CI = 1.19-2.26). An increasing trend in daily average suicides was indicated from December 30th to January 1st (β = 1.79, p < 0.05). Both seasonal and day of the week effects were present in most subpopulations. Holiday effects were most prevalent among men and varied by age.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Veteran suicide incidence was elevated in summer months, on Mondays, and on New Year's Day. Temporal patterns differed by sex and age. Findings can inform ongoing Veteran suicide prevention efforts.</p>","PeriodicalId":39684,"journal":{"name":"Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior","volume":" ","pages":"e13148"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142740882","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Taylor R Rodriguez, Shelby L Bandel, Allison E Bond, Michael D Anestis, Joye C Anestis
{"title":"Predictors of recent mental health service utilization among firearm-owning US service members with high levels of psychological distress.","authors":"Taylor R Rodriguez, Shelby L Bandel, Allison E Bond, Michael D Anestis, Joye C Anestis","doi":"10.1111/sltb.13155","DOIUrl":"10.1111/sltb.13155","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Service members with mental health difficulties and access to a firearm are at an increased risk for suicide. Mental healthcare providers are well-positioned to discuss firearms and create safety plans; however, many service members do not seek treatment. This study aims to identify potential sociodemographic predictors of recent mental healthcare utilization among firearm-owning service members who report past month distress.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The sample included 268 US military service members. Participants reported whether they attended at least one behavioral health visit in the 3 months prior to participation.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Females, individuals of a racial background other than Black or White, older individuals, and those who have never been active-duty were more likely to have attended a session. Additionally, the likelihood of utilization was higher among those who reported past week wish to die and suicidal behaviors in the past year.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>While certain service members are less likely to have utilized mental healthcare, findings suggest that those with suicidal ideation and access to a firearm are likely to engage in at least one appointment. As such, providing mental healthcare providers with training and resources for promoting secure firearm storage is an important avenue for suicide prevention.</p>","PeriodicalId":39684,"journal":{"name":"Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior","volume":" ","pages":"e13155"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11886764/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142814373","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Correction to \"What is known about suicide prevention gatekeeper training and directions for future research\".","authors":"","doi":"10.1111/sltb.70015","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/sltb.70015","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":39684,"journal":{"name":"Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior","volume":"55 2","pages":"e70015"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143780295","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Suicide Scripts Among Sexual and/or Gender Minority Adults.","authors":"Cherish R Rafajko, Jennifer J Muehlenkamp","doi":"10.1111/sltb.70012","DOIUrl":"10.1111/sltb.70012","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study investigates the social norms of suicide acceptability among sexual and gender minority (GM) individuals, aiming to replicate and extend previous findings.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Participants (n = 1962) aged 18-35 were recruited through social media and university email lists. Participants were randomly assigned to one of five vignettes depicting a non-lethal suicide attempt following either general (e.g., failed relationship) or LGBTQ+ specific stressors (e.g., same-sex encounter). Measures assessed perceptions of suicidal behavior, acceptability of suicide, empathy with the decision to attempt suicide, perceived emotional adjustment, suicide intent, and character of the suicidal person. Data were analyzed using a 4 (identity type) × 5 (scenario) between-subject ANCOVAs.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Significant differences were found across minority types. Sexual and gender minority participants viewed suicidal behavior more positively and as more acceptable compared to cisgender heterosexual participants. Gender minority participants perceived higher levels of emotional adjustment and lower suicidal intent than all other groups. No significant group differences were found in empathy toward the decision to attempt suicide.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The findings suggest that suicide is viewed as permissible and perhaps normalized within LGBTQ+ communities, potentially increasing risk. Interventions targeting permissive suicide scripts may be crucial for suicide prevention among LGBTQ+ populations.</p>","PeriodicalId":39684,"journal":{"name":"Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior","volume":"55 2","pages":"e70012"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11951396/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143732366","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jeremy L Grove, Angela M Tunno, Shayna M Cheek, Bridget E Weller, Nicole C Heilbron, Adrienne B Inscoe, B Keith Payne, Tia L Tyndal, David B Goldston
{"title":"Implicit affective responses to suicide-related stimuli: Differences as a function of suicide attempt history and concurrent substance use.","authors":"Jeremy L Grove, Angela M Tunno, Shayna M Cheek, Bridget E Weller, Nicole C Heilbron, Adrienne B Inscoe, B Keith Payne, Tia L Tyndal, David B Goldston","doi":"10.1111/sltb.13140","DOIUrl":"10.1111/sltb.13140","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Individuals who are depressed, have suicide attempts, and a substance use disorder (SUD) may have different patterns of suicidal thoughts and behaviors and respond differently to cues associated with suicide and death.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Implicit affective reactions to visual cues suggestive of suicide and death (as well as to pleasant, unpleasant, and neutral cues), were compared among three groups of hospitalized adults: (a) depressed patients without the histories of suicidal behavior (depression only), (b) depressed patients with suicide attempts, but no current substance abuse disorder (SA), and (c) depressed patients with both suicide attempts and substance use disorder (SA + SUD).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The SA group demonstrated higher positive evaluations of visual cues associated with suicide and death when compared to the SA + SUD group. The SA + SUD group demonstrated the lowest positive evaluation of suicide-related stimuli as well as less positive evaluation of visual cues of generally unpleasant stimuli.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Differences observed between SA and SA + SUD participants underscore differences in responses to cues related to suicide, which may reflect differences in mechanisms of risk.</p>","PeriodicalId":39684,"journal":{"name":"Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior","volume":" ","pages":"e13140"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11879758/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142606654","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Developmental trajectories of interpersonal stress in school and psychological pain contributing to self-harm in adolescents.","authors":"Fang Sun, Yuying Chen, Huanhuan Li, Shijie Wei, Siru Wang, Hongyan Zhao","doi":"10.1111/sltb.13144","DOIUrl":"10.1111/sltb.13144","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>This study investigated the trajectories of interpersonal stress and psychological pain and their effects on self-harm behaviors in adolescents and explored the reciprocal associations between interpersonal stress and NSSI/SA.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The participants included 1149 adolescents (50.3% women; M<sub>age</sub> = 12.86, SD = 0.69) who participated in three waves of data collection. Latent class growth models and cross-lagged panel models were used to identify subgroups of individuals and interactions between interpersonal stress and NSSI/SA.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Controlling for sex and age, compared to the low interpersonal stress class, the moderate to high and increasing classes have higher risks of NSSI and SA. Compared to adolescents in the low increasing feelings with high increasing avoidance class, those in the low increasing feelings with low decreasing avoidance class reported lower probabilities of NSSI and SA. Pain avoidance and painful feelings mediated the pathway from interpersonal stress to NSSI/SA, whereas pain arousal mediated the pathway from NSSI/SA to interpersonal stress.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Shared impact of interpersonal stress and distinct effects of psychological pain over time on maintaining and distinguishing self-harm behaviors were found. Adolescent crisis interventions should simultaneously focus on building social networks within the school context and regulating maladaptive minds.</p>","PeriodicalId":39684,"journal":{"name":"Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior","volume":" ","pages":"e13144"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142584305","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Exploring the longitudinal associations among fear of negative evaluation, self-disgust, and self-injury in Chinese adolescents: Disentangling between- and within-person associations.","authors":"Jiajing Zhang, Danrui Chen, Jiefeng Ying, Yunhong Shen, Shiting Zhan, Rui Zhong, Jianing You","doi":"10.1111/sltb.13151","DOIUrl":"10.1111/sltb.13151","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) and suicidal ideation (SI) are widespread mental health concerns among adolescents. As fear of negative evaluation (FNE) and self-disgust are also common psychological phenomena among adolescents, existing research suggests that there may be reciprocal predictive relationships between FNE and NSSI/SI with self-disgust playing a mediating role. This study aimed to investigate the reciprocal relationships between FNE and NSSI, as well as FNE and SI, and the mediating role of self-disgust.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Random intercept cross-lagged panel models (RI-CLPMs) were employed. A total of 515 Chinese secondary school students (50.7% boys; baseline M<sub>age</sub> = 12.31 years, SD = 0.81) completed self-report questionnaires regarding FNE, self-disgust, NSSI, and SI. The assessment was conducted in four waves, 6 months apart.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The results were as follows: (1) There were bidirectional relations between FNE and NSSI through self-disgust. (2) There was a unidirectional association from FNE to SI via self-disgust.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These findings have expanded the theoretical understanding of adolescent NSSI and SI, and highlighted the importance of offering personalized psychological counseling and therapy services at the intrapersonal level for adolescents.</p>","PeriodicalId":39684,"journal":{"name":"Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior","volume":" ","pages":"e13151"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142802666","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Arjan van der Star, Alyson Randall, Linda Salgin, John P Brady, Christopher Albright, Jacquie Mitzner, Jessica Alexander, Keaton Williams, V Robin Weersing, Jerel P Calzo, Sarah A Rojas, Christian B Ramers, Kristen J Wells, Aaron J Blashill
{"title":"Development of a Suicide Prevention Intervention for Sexual and Gender Minority Youth and Young Adults: Rationale, Design, and Evidence of Feasibility and Acceptability.","authors":"Arjan van der Star, Alyson Randall, Linda Salgin, John P Brady, Christopher Albright, Jacquie Mitzner, Jessica Alexander, Keaton Williams, V Robin Weersing, Jerel P Calzo, Sarah A Rojas, Christian B Ramers, Kristen J Wells, Aaron J Blashill","doi":"10.1111/sltb.70014","DOIUrl":"10.1111/sltb.70014","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Patient navigation (PN), paired with the safety planning intervention (SPI), may allay mechanisms that theoretically underlie suicide among sexual and gender minorities (SGM). This paper describes (a) the iterative development of a theory-informed PN + SPI intervention (QueerCare) to prevent suicide among at-risk SGM youth and young adults and (b) a case series examining the feasibility and acceptability of study procedures, measures, and QueerCare.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Seven initial QueerCare modules and a glossary of terms were drafted. Seven participants completed the case series. Feasibility and acceptability over 3 months were examined by triangulating multi-method data.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The study procedures and measures in the at-risk population were feasible and sensitive, provided that remote safety monitoring and parental consent waivers were in place. QueerCare was feasible, helpful, and appropriate based on satisfaction ratings and four emerging themes: matched identity care, internalized barriers, support, and flexibility valued. Two additional modules and guardian materials were created. Suicidal crisis management protocols were continuously refined.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>QueerCare was developed as a highly flexible modular intervention to meet the needs of SGM youth and young adults and prevent repeat suicide attempts in this population. Findings indicate study procedures, measures, and QueerCare were feasible and acceptable based on triangulated data.</p><p><strong>Trial registration: </strong>This study was registered under ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT04757649.</p>","PeriodicalId":39684,"journal":{"name":"Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior","volume":"55 2","pages":"e70014"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11968012/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143781261","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Lauren M Denneson, Kyla Tompkins, Maeve M Hindenburg, Alexandria Reguinga, Kipling M Bohnert, Dara A Ganoczy, Mark A Ilgen, Peter C Britton
{"title":"Collaboration and consent in decisions to initiate emergency dispatches for suicide risk: A national qualitative study.","authors":"Lauren M Denneson, Kyla Tompkins, Maeve M Hindenburg, Alexandria Reguinga, Kipling M Bohnert, Dara A Ganoczy, Mark A Ilgen, Peter C Britton","doi":"10.1111/sltb.13142","DOIUrl":"10.1111/sltb.13142","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>This study sought to better understand discussions of emergency dispatches (i.e., activation of local crisis services to conduct a welfare check) and the circumstances under which Veterans Crisis Line (VCL) callers and responders feel they are able contribute to (collaboration) and agree upon (consent) the decision to initiate an emergency dispatch.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Semi-structured interviews gathered data on veterans' (n = 40) experiences receiving an emergency dispatch and VCL responders' (n = 35) perspectives on initiating dispatches. Data were analyzed using a thematic analysis approach.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Veterans calling the VCL were often seeking emotional support and were surprised to receive a suicide risk assessment and emergency dispatch. Responders reported they strive for collaboration and consent prior to sending a dispatch, but the crisis setting challenged this ideal. Overall, veterans and responders described similar features of the ideal, collaborative conversation about dispatches yet noted threats to achieving collaboration: complex standard operating procedures, responder training quality, and responder lack of comfort with de-escalation.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Increasing veteran awareness of VCL services, altering the timing and type of suicide risk assessment, enhancing de-escalation skill, increasing consistency of VCL responder proficiencies, and revising guidelines for dispatch disclosure were identified as ways to improve collaboration and consent around emergency dispatches.</p>","PeriodicalId":39684,"journal":{"name":"Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior","volume":" ","pages":"e13142"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142606653","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
David B Goldston, Stephanie S Daniel, John F Curry, Karen C Wells, Otima Doyle, Bridget E Weller, Alaattin Erkanli, Alfiee M Breland-Noble, Nicole C Heilbron, Adrienne B Inscoe
{"title":"Lived experiences of mothers: A longitudinal study of impacts and adjustment following adolescent psychiatric hospitalization for suicide attempts or other reasons.","authors":"David B Goldston, Stephanie S Daniel, John F Curry, Karen C Wells, Otima Doyle, Bridget E Weller, Alaattin Erkanli, Alfiee M Breland-Noble, Nicole C Heilbron, Adrienne B Inscoe","doi":"10.1111/sltb.13145","DOIUrl":"10.1111/sltb.13145","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Parents play crucial roles in monitoring and supporting youth who have been hospitalized after suicide attempts, but their adjustment in the period following hospitalization has been understudied. This study assessed the adjustment and impacts on mothers during the year following hospitalization.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Participants included 135 mothers of suicidal adolescents and 117 mothers of adolescents hospitalized for other reasons. The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM (SCID) and the Child and Adolescent Impact Assessment were used to assess psychiatric diagnoses of Major Depressive Disorder [MDD], Generalized Anxiety Disorder [GAD], and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder [PTSD], and impacts on caregivers at one, three, six, and 12 months after hospitalization.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Higher rates of MDD, GAD, and PTSD, and greater impacts were evidenced closer in time to the hospitalization. There were few overall differences between mothers of youth with and without suicidal behavior. However, family history of suicidal behavior was related to higher rates of MDD and PTSD, and greater severity of youth suicidal thoughts and behavior over the follow-up was related to greater impact upon mothers of suicidal youth.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study highlights the mental health struggles of mothers of suicidal and other hospitalized youth and underscores the importance of support for caregivers.</p>","PeriodicalId":39684,"journal":{"name":"Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior","volume":" ","pages":"e13145"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142773378","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}