Citation

Simons GJ, Drewniak TA, Jahn A, Gillen MJ, Larsen SE, Kangas GM. Mil. Psychol. 2019; 31(1): 18-25.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/08995605.2018.1524254

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This study examined the effectiveness of a weekly, drop-in therapy support group designed for Veterans identified at increased risk for suicide. Veterans were identified as at risk for suicide and referred to the group following hospitalization on the inpatient psychiatric unit after an increase in suicidal ideation (SI), presentation to a provider with SI with a plan, or having made a suicide attempt. An archival chart review was performed on 359 patients who were referred to the Coping, Understanding, Support, and Prevention Group from 2009 through 2011. Documented risk of suicide was collected from the chart including: frequency of inpatient psychiatric hospitalization, visits to the emergency department or mental health walk in clinic for SI, reported SI in clinical notes, consults resulting from calls to the Veteran's Crisis Line, and assignment or removal of suicide risk behavior flags in the electronic medical record, for a period of 12 months prior to referral to the group and for a period of 12 months after referral to the group. Negative binomial regression models found that Veterans attending the support group showed a significantly greater reduction in frequency of endorsing SI post-referral compared to those who did not attend the group.

RESULTS imply that offering Veterans an ongoing therapeutic group format to give and receive support from peers also struggling with suicide risk factors is an effective way to reduce suicide-related thoughts. © 2019, © 2019 Society for Military Psychology, Division 19 of the American Psychological Association.

Language: en

Keywords

suicide; suicidal ideation; Suicide prevention; Veterans; group therapy