Suicide 101

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Suicide 101

• Peter M. Gutierrez, Ph.D.
• VA VISN 19 MIRECC
• Department of Psychiatry University of Colorado
  Denver School of Medicine

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National Mortality Data - 2005

• 32,637 Suicide Deaths (11.0)
• 25,907 Male Suicide Deaths (17.7)
• 11th Leading Cause of Death
• Rate for 25-34 y/o 12.4
• Colorado 6th Highest Rate (17.1)

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Estimated Attempts - 2005

• No Official National Data Compiled
• 816,000 (251)
• One Attempt Every 39 Seconds
• 3 Female Attempts for Every Male

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VA Suicide Data Sources

• VA relies on multiple sources of information to
  identify deaths that are potentially due to
  suicide
• VA 's own Beneficiary Identification and Records
  Locator Subsystem
• Records from the Social Security Administration
• Data compiled by the National Center for Health
  Statistics in its National Death Index

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National Death Index Matched to Service Members
Separating 2002-2005

• VA examined OEF/OIF service members who separated
  from service in that time period
• Male veterans 18-29 who used VA care died by
  suicide at a rate of 21.0/ 100,000, compared to
  veterans of that age who did not use VA for care
  (30.4)

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NDI Findings Continued

• Male veterans aged 30-64 who used VA for care
  died of suicide at a rate of 17.5 compared to a
  rate of 22.8 for those who did not use VA for
  care (ns)
• only 3 women OEF/OIF veterans died of suicide
  through 2005, accurate rates within age groups
  cannot be calculated

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VA Efforts to Track Suicide Attempts

• Suicide Prevention Coordinators now compiling
  data on suicide attempts, of which they are
  aware, at all 153 medical centers nationwide
• In place for past 22 months

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Indicates fewer than 3 deaths "Veteran"
indicates only that the person served in the US
Armed Services
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Lessons Learned from OEF/OIF Veterans

• Qualitative study of combat veterans
• Impacts of deployment
• Coping strategies developed in theater don't work
  as well at home
• Role of burdensomeness, failed belongingness, and
  habituation to painful stimuli

Brenner et al., 2008
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Suicidality and Psychiatric Admission VA TBI
Survivors

• 22 Subjects
• Total Number of Admissions 114
• Median Number of Admissions 3
• Range of Admissions 1-20

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Suicidal Ideation Assessed at Time of Admission
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Suicidal Ideation Present at Time of Admission
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Number of Admissions Secondary to a Suicide
Attempt
11 of total admissions Number of attempts 1-5
Median - 2
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Attempt Method
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National Suicide Crisis Line 1-800-273-TALK

• Press 1 for Veteran
• Partnership with the Lifeline Program of the
  Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
  Administration
• Went live July, 2007

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Impact of VA Crisis Line - Nationally

• As of April 09, more than 120,000 calls have
  come to the hotline from veterans, family
  members, or friends
• 3060 rescues involving emergency services