Roles of Physical and Mental Health in Suicidal Ideation in Canadian Armed Forces Regular Force Veterans
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Authors
Thompson, James M.
Zamorski, Mark A.
Sweet, Jill
VanTil, Linda
Sareen, Jitender
Pietrzak, Robert H.
Hopman, Wilma H.
MacLean, Mary Beth
Pedlar, David
Date
2014
Type
journal article
Language
en
Keyword
Veterans , Suicidal Ideation , Physical Health , Mental Health , Suicide
Alternative Title
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Suicide in recent veterans is an international concern. An association between mental disorders and suicide has been established, but lessinformation is available about an association between physical health problems and suicide among veterans. This study extends this area of inquiry byexamining the relationship of both physical and mental health problems with suicidal ideation in a representative national sample of Canadian veterans. METHODS: Subjects were a stratified random sample of 2,658 veterans who had been released from the Canadian Armed Forces Regular Force during1998-2007 and had participated in the 2010 Survey on Transition to Civilian Life. Associations between physical and mental health and past-yearsuicidal ideation were explored in multivariable regression models using three measures of physical and mental health. RESULTS: The prevalence of suicidal ideation was 5.8% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 5.0%-6.8%). After adjustment for covariates, ideation wasassociated with gastrointestinal disorders (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.66, CI: 1.03-2.65), depression or anxiety (AOR 5.06, CI: 2.97-8.62) and mooddisorders (AOR 2.91, CI: 1.67-5.07); number of physical (AOR 1.22, CI: 1.05-1.42) and mental conditions (AOR 2.32, CI: 2.01-2.68); and SF-12 HealthSurvey physical health (AOR 0.98, CI: 0.96-0.99 for each 1 point increase) and mental health (AOR 0.88, CI: 0.87-0.89). CONCLUSIONS: Physical health was independently associated with suicidal ideation after adjustment for mental health status and socio-demographiccharacteristics. The findings underscore the importance of considering physical health in population-based suicide prevention efforts and in mitigatingsuicide risk in individual veterans.