Demographic and Occupational Risk Factors Associated With Suicide-Related Aeromedical Evacuation Among Deployed U.S. Military Service Members.

CONCLUSIONS: Findings provide novel information on risk factors associated with suicide-related aeromedical evacuation as well as military separation following a suicide-related aeromedical evacuation. In many cases, the psychiatric aeromedical evacuation of a service member for suicidal ideations and their subsequent separation from active duty is in the best interest of the individual and the military. However, the evacuation and eventual military separation can be costly for the military and the service member. Consequently, the military should focus on indicated prevention interventions for individuals who show sufficient early signs of crisis and functional problems so that specialized interventions can be used in theater to prevent evacuation. Indicated prevention interventions should start with leaders' awareness and mitigation of risk and, when feasible, evidence-based interventions for suicide risk provided by behavioral health (eg, brief cognitive behavioral therapy for suicide). Future research should evaluate the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of delivering suicide-related interventions in theater. PMID: 32776113 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Military Medicine - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Tags: Mil Med Source Type: research