Citation

Kopacz MS, Nieuwsma JA, Jackson GL, Rhodes JE, Cantrell WC, Bates MJ, Meador KG. Suicide Life Threat. Behav. 2015; 46(2): 206-212.

Affiliation

Departments of Psychiatry and Health Policy, Center for Biomedical Ethics and Society & Graduate Department of Religion, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, American Association of Suicidology, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/sltb.12184

PMID

26255592

Abstract

Chaplains play an important role in supporting the mental health of current and former military personnel; in this study, the engagement of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Army, Navy, and Air Force chaplains with suicidality among their service users were examined. An online survey was used to collect data from 440 VA and 1,723 Department of Defense (DoD) chaplains as part of the VA/DoD Integrated Mental Health Strategy. Differences were noted for demographics, work setting characteristics, encountering suicidality, and self-perceived preparation for dealing with suicidality. Compared to DoD chaplains, VA chaplains encounter more at-risk service users, yet feel less prepared for dealing with suicidality.

Language: en