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Knowledge hub Suicide prevention for Veterans and Family members

Suicide prevention for Veterans and Family members

Suicide is a serious public health issue in Canada and abroad. Research suggests that suicide disproportionately affects Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Veterans. Veteran Family members may also be at risk of suicide.1 Preventing suicide and promoting mental health among Veterans and their Family members is therefore vital.

This webpage contains informational resources for both Veterans and Veteran Family members, including two practical guidance documents (“toolkits”) as well as an infographic for having a conversation about suicide (“conversation guide”) with an accompanying wallet card.  It also contains some quick facts and statistics about suicide and a short list of additional resources.

These resources may not be suitable for you if you’re considering suicide. If you’re thinking about suicide, call or text the Suicide Crisis Helpline at 9-8-8 for immediate support.

Resources

The following resources were created in partnership with the Centre for Suicide Prevention.

In addition to being informed by research, the resources were co-developed with an advisory committee comprised of CAF and RCMP Veterans and Veteran Family members. We thank these advisory members for sharing their time and expertise to co-create these resources.

Toolkit for Veterans

Practical information and guidance on suicide prevention for military and RCMP Veterans.

Download

Toolkit for Family members

Practical information and guidance on looking after yourself and others as a Veteran Family member.

Download

Conversation guide
infographic

Step-by-step information on talking about suicide with a friend or Family member.

Download

Conversation guide
wallet card

Quick guidance for how to talk about suicide with a friend or Family member.

Download

Quick facts and statistics

  • Military Veterans have a higher suicide rate than civilians:
    • Men military Veterans are 1.4 times more likely to die by suicide;
    • Women military Veterans are almost two times more likely to die by suicide.2
  • The peak age for suicide differs among military Veterans:
    • Men are more likely to die by suicide within four years of their release;
    • Women are more likely to die by suicide 20 years after their release.3
  • Women Veterans (CAF and RCMP) are more likely to think about suicide than men Veterans.4
  • Women RCMP Veterans think about, plan and attempt suicide more than their civilian counterparts. Women RCMP Veterans are also more likely to attempt suicide than men RCMP Veterans and civilian women.2
  • Women who have experienced sexual violence, such as military sexual trauma, are more likely to attempt or die by suicide.5
  • Veterans with diverse sexual or gender identities (e.g. lesbian, gay, transgender) may be at higher risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviours.6-8
  • Suicide has far-reaching impacts. A recent study suggests that each death can affect up to 135 people.9
  • Veteran Family members can be affected by their loved one’s suicidality (that is, suicidal thoughts, ideas and behaviours) in many ways, such as burnout, fatigue, stigma and experiencing suicidal thoughts and behaviours themselves.10-12
  • Family members can play a role in suicide prevention (e.g. as gatekeepers, providing informal support).13
  • Research from other countries suggests Veteran Family members may experience higher rates of suicidal thoughts, ideas and behaviours, particularly in cases where the Veterans has posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).14,15
  • Research shows that there are many Family-related factors that can increase or decrease risk of suicide (e.g. social support, intimate partner violence, relationship satisfaction).13

Additional resources

Interested in learning more about suicide prevention? Check out these resources:

Fact sheet on military and Veteran Family involvement in suicide prevention efforts

Fact sheet on military and Veteran Family involvement in suicide prevention efforts: Background information on suicide in military and Veteran communities and preliminary findings from an Atlas-funded study on Veteran Family suicidality.

  • Type: Informational resource
  • Location: Online
  • Cost: Free
  • Language: English only
  • Target audiences: Veterans, Family members, researchers, service providers, policy makers

Media guidelines for reporting on Veterans, with a focus on PTSD and suicide

Media guidelines for reporting on Veterans, with a focus on PTSD and suicide: Resource for members of the media and others with dos and don’ts to avoid stigmatizing stereotypes when reporting on suicide.

  • Type: Guidance document
  • Location: online
  • Cost: Free
  • Language: English and French
  • Target audiences: Journalists

Guide for people and Families struggling with suicide

Guide for people and Families struggling with suicide: Online resource by St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton to support those who are experiencing thoughts of suicide, as well as their Family members and loved ones.

  • Type: Guidance document
  • Location: online
  • Cost: Free
  • Language: English only
  • Target audiences: Veterans, Family members, service providers

Canadian Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs Canada Joint Suicide Prevention Strategy

Canadian Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs Canada Joint Suicide Prevention Strategy: Current and future goals, programs, projects and initiatives to prevent suicide among Veterans and currently serving members in Canada.

  • Type: Policy document
  • Location: online
  • Cost: Free
  • Language: English and French
  • Target audiences: Researchers, service providers, policy makers, Veterans, Family members

PsychArmor

PsychArmor: U.S. website providing various courses, resources and guidance on suicide prevention for military and Veteran Families, as well as on Veteran culture more broadly.

  • Type: Courses and informational resources
  • Location: online
  • Cost: Free and paid options
  • Language: English and French
  • Target audiences: Veterans, Family members

Mental Health First Aid course for the Veteran community

Mental Health First Aid course for the Veteran community: Course by Opening Minds offering tools and knowledge for talking about mental health, including how to respond in a crisis.

  • Type: Course
  • Location: online
  • Cost: Free for members of the Veteran community
  • Language: English and French
  • Target audiences: Veterans, Family members

List of contributors and suggested citations

List of contributors and suggested citations

These resources were prepared by the Atlas Institute for Veterans and Families and the Centre for Suicide Prevention. We would like to thank the following individuals for their contributions to these resources. Please note that the names listed include only those who have explicitly consented to being acknowledged as a contributor.

LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS

Advisor
Candace Bell, Charlene Fanstone, Tanis Giczi, Kayla Lamrock, Laryssa Lamrock, Abdul (Huf) Mullick, Daniel Pelletier, Darren Reid

Approval
Victoria Carmichael, Mara Grunau, Fardous Hosseiny, Cara Kane, Laryssa Lamrock, Abdul (Huf) Mullick, MaryAnn Notarianni, V. Joy Pavelich, Hailley White

Conceptualization
Meriem Benlamri, Victoria Carmichael, Gabby Dupuis, Mara Grunau, Laryssa Lamrock, Robert Olson, V. Joy Pavelich, Crystal Walker, Hailley White

Editing
Victoria Carmichael, Fardous Hosseiny, Cara Kane, Kim Chicote, Krystle Kung, Laryssa Lamrock, MaryAnn Notarianni, Robert Olson, V. Joy Pavelich, Lori-Anne Thibault, Crystal Walker, Hailley White

Methodology
Victoria Carmichael, Kim Chicote, Laryssa Lamrock, Robert Olson, Crystal Walker, Hailley White

Production
Ghislain Girard

Project administration
Victoria Carmichael, Kim Chicote, Laryssa Lamrock, Robert Olson, Crystal Walker, Hailley White

Research and analytics
Victoria Carmichael, Kim Chicote, Robert Olson

Supervision
Mara Grunau, Cara Kane, Krystle Kung, Laryssa Lamrock, MaryAnn Notarianni, V. Joy Pavelich

Visualization
Victoria Carmichael, Hailley White

Writing
Victoria Carmichael, Kim Chicote, Laryssa Lamrock, Robert Olson, Crystal Walker, Hailley White

Suggested citations

  • Atlas Institute for Veterans and Families and the Centre for Suicide Prevention. Looking after yourself and others: A toolkit of practical information and guidance on suicide prevention for Veteran Families. Ottawa, ON: 2024. Available from: atlasveterans.ca/suicide-prevention-toolkit-family.
  • Atlas Institute for Veterans and Families and the Centre for Suicide Prevention. Military and RCMP Veterans and suicide prevention: A toolkit of practical information and guidance. Ottawa, ON: 2024. Available from: atlasveterans.ca/suicide-prevention-toolkit-veteran.
  • Atlas Institute for Veterans and Families and the Centre for Suicide Prevention. Suicide prevention conversation guide for military and RCMP Veterans and Families. Ottawa, ON: 2024. Available from: atlasveterans.ca/suicide-prevention-conversation-guide.

Interested in learning more about the Atlas Institute’s approach to recognizing contributions to these resources? Check out our contributorship model for more information.

References

References

  1. Thompson JM, Heber A, VanTil L, Simkus K, Carrese L, Sareen J, Pedlar D. Life course well-being framework for suicide prevention in Canadian Armed Forces Veterans. Journal of Military, Veteran and Family Health. 2019;5(2):176-94.
  2. Simkus K, Hall A, Heber A, VanTil L. Veteran suicide mortality study: follow-up period from 1976 to 2014 [Internet]. Ottawa: Veterans Affairs Canada, 2019 [cited 2024 Feb 20]. Available from: gc.ca/eng/about-vac/research/research-directorate/publications/reports/veteran-suicide-mortality-study-2019
  3. VanTil LD, Simkus K, Rolland-Harris E, Heber A. Identifying release-related precursors to suicide among Canadian veterans between 1976 and 2012. Journal of Military, Veteran and Family Health. 2021 Feb 1;7(1):13-20.
  4. Poole MN. Women Veterans of the Canadian Armed Forces and Royal Canadian Mounted Police: A scoping review. Journal of Military, Veteran and Family Health. 2021;7:6-18.
  5. Monteith LL, Holliday R, Dichter ME, Hoffmire CA. Preventing suicide among women veterans: gender-sensitive, trauma-informed conceptualization. Current Treatment Options in Psychiatry. 2022 Sep;9(3):186-201.
  6. Blosnich JR, Mays VM, Cochran SD. Suicidality among veterans: implications of sexual minority status. American Journal of Public Health. 2014 Sep;104(S4):S535-7.
  7. Lynch KE, Gatsby E, Viernes B, Schliep KC, Whitcomb BW, Alba PR, DuVall SL, Blosnich JR. Evaluation of suicide mortality among sexual minority US veterans from 2000 to 2017. JAMA Network Open. 2020 Dec 1;3(12):e2031357.
  8. Matarazzo BB, Barnes SM, Pease JL, Russell LM, Hanson JE, Soberay KA, Gutierrez PM. Suicide risk among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender military personnel and veterans: What does the literature tell us? Suicide and Life‐Threatening Behavior. 2014 Apr;44(2):200-17.
  9. Maple M, Sanford R, Pirkis J, Reavley N, Nicholas A. Exposure to suicide in Australia: A representative random digit dial study. Journal of Affective Disorders. 2019 Dec 1;259:221-7.
  10. McLaughlin C, McGowan I, Kernohan G, O’Neill S. The unmet support needs of family members caring for a suicidal person. Journal of Mental Health. 2016 May 3;25(3):212-6.
  11. Bride BE, Figley CR. Secondary trauma and military veteran caregivers. Smith College Studies in Social Work. 2009 Dec 1;79(3-4):314-29.
  12. Peterson A, Bozzay M, Bender A, Monahan M, Chen J. Those left behind: A scoping review of the effects of suicide exposure on veterans, service members, and military families. Death Studies. 2022 May 28;46(5):1176-85.
  13. DuBois D, Richmond R, Roberts LS, Mahar A, Fear N, Gill K, Leroux JS, Cramm H. A scoping review of military and Veteran families within international suicidality and suicide prevention research. Preventive Medicine Reports. 2023 Apr 15:102206.
  14. Boričević Maršanić V, Margetić BA, Zečević I, Herceg M. The prevalence and psychosocial correlates of suicide attempts among inpatient adolescent offspring of Croatian PTSD male war veterans. Child Psychiatry & Human Development. 2014 Oct;45:577-87.
  15. Klarić M, Frančišković T, Černi Obrdalj E, Petrić D, Britvić D, Zovko N. Psychiatric and health impact of primary and secondary traumatization in wives of veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder. Psychiatria Danubina. 2012 Sep 24;24(3.):280-6.
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