Suicide bereavement and loneliness among UK Armed Forces veterans under the care of mental health services: Prevalence and associations
Suicide bereavement is a risk factor for suicide and psychiatric illness. Its lifetime prevalence in the general population is estimated at 22%, and in one (US) veteran sample as 47%, but no estimates exist for a UK veteran sample. We aimed to measure the lifetime prevalence of suicide bereavement i...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Current Research in Behavioral Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666518223000311 |
| _version_ | 1797394755250814976 |
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| author | Marta Lages Abrantes Alexandra Pitman |
| author_facet | Marta Lages Abrantes Alexandra Pitman |
| author_sort | Marta Lages Abrantes |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Suicide bereavement is a risk factor for suicide and psychiatric illness. Its lifetime prevalence in the general population is estimated at 22%, and in one (US) veteran sample as 47%, but no estimates exist for a UK veteran sample. We aimed to measure the lifetime prevalence of suicide bereavement in a clinical sample of UK veterans to inform service provision for this group. Our secondary aim was to measure the prevalence of loneliness and investigate the association between suicide bereavement and loneliness. We searched the routine electronic clinical records of all veterans treated in a London veterans’ crisis care service over the period September 2021 to June 2022 (n=69), capturing data on their sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, including the proportions recorded as having experienced the suicide of a friend or relative and as experiencing loneliness. We used multivariable logistic regression models to test for an association of suicide bereavement with loneliness. The lifetime prevalence of suicide bereavement was 30% (predominantly of friends) and the period prevalence of loneliness was 57%. There was no association of suicide bereavement with loneliness. This work highlights the high proportion of veterans in this clinical sample with two specific suicide risk factors, and their likely needs for specific support to address the psychological consequences of suicide loss. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T00:24:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4af5a8a632dd4e62b19b4f4e59f92e1d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2666-5182 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T00:24:11Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Current Research in Behavioral Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-4af5a8a632dd4e62b19b4f4e59f92e1d2023-12-12T04:36:41ZengElsevierCurrent Research in Behavioral Sciences2666-51822023-01-015100126Suicide bereavement and loneliness among UK Armed Forces veterans under the care of mental health services: Prevalence and associationsMarta Lages Abrantes0Alexandra Pitman1Hospital Professor Doutor Fernando Fonseca, IC19, Amadora, Lisbon 2720-276, Portugal; Portuguese Air Force, Azinhaga Ulmeiros, Lisbon 1649-020, Portugal; Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust, St Pancras Hospital, St Pancras Way, London NW1 0PE, UKCamden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust, St Pancras Hospital, St Pancras Way, London NW1 0PE, UK; UCL Division of Psychiatry, Maple House, 149 Tottenham Court Road, London W1W 7NF, UK; Corresponding author at: UCL Division of Psychiatry, Maple House, 149 Tottenham Court Road, London W1W 7NF, UK.Suicide bereavement is a risk factor for suicide and psychiatric illness. Its lifetime prevalence in the general population is estimated at 22%, and in one (US) veteran sample as 47%, but no estimates exist for a UK veteran sample. We aimed to measure the lifetime prevalence of suicide bereavement in a clinical sample of UK veterans to inform service provision for this group. Our secondary aim was to measure the prevalence of loneliness and investigate the association between suicide bereavement and loneliness. We searched the routine electronic clinical records of all veterans treated in a London veterans’ crisis care service over the period September 2021 to June 2022 (n=69), capturing data on their sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, including the proportions recorded as having experienced the suicide of a friend or relative and as experiencing loneliness. We used multivariable logistic regression models to test for an association of suicide bereavement with loneliness. The lifetime prevalence of suicide bereavement was 30% (predominantly of friends) and the period prevalence of loneliness was 57%. There was no association of suicide bereavement with loneliness. This work highlights the high proportion of veterans in this clinical sample with two specific suicide risk factors, and their likely needs for specific support to address the psychological consequences of suicide loss.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666518223000311SuicideBereavementGriefVeteransLonelinessSubstance-related disorders |
| spellingShingle | Marta Lages Abrantes Alexandra Pitman Suicide bereavement and loneliness among UK Armed Forces veterans under the care of mental health services: Prevalence and associations Current Research in Behavioral Sciences Suicide Bereavement Grief Veterans Loneliness Substance-related disorders |
| title | Suicide bereavement and loneliness among UK Armed Forces veterans under the care of mental health services: Prevalence and associations |
| title_full | Suicide bereavement and loneliness among UK Armed Forces veterans under the care of mental health services: Prevalence and associations |
| title_fullStr | Suicide bereavement and loneliness among UK Armed Forces veterans under the care of mental health services: Prevalence and associations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Suicide bereavement and loneliness among UK Armed Forces veterans under the care of mental health services: Prevalence and associations |
| title_short | Suicide bereavement and loneliness among UK Armed Forces veterans under the care of mental health services: Prevalence and associations |
| title_sort | suicide bereavement and loneliness among uk armed forces veterans under the care of mental health services prevalence and associations |
| topic | Suicide Bereavement Grief Veterans Loneliness Substance-related disorders |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666518223000311 |
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