Veteran Suicide: Investigating the Social and Historical Dimensions

This research study into veteran suicide will interview 6 families of male veterans who have taken their lives since 2001. We will also interview 6 veterans who attempted suicide but continue on with life. The research team will conduct significant documentary and archival research to investigate the institutional factors leading to male veteran suicide, as well as collecting their stories to understand their personal, family and community pressures. We will investigate the health and support policies within which male veterans work and live, as well as the health provision pathways these veterans who completed suicide took in their last months. It will identify education strategies for serving and former members, a suicide/transition inventory to identify at risk personnel/veterans, and it will make recommendations on the current policy context around addressing mental health while serving and after separation. This context includes transition services, and the developing relationship between separated personnel and DVA and the veteran sector.

Researching families of veterans who have suicided and veterans who have attempted suicide.