Veteran suicide thoughts and attempts during the transition from military service to civilian life: Qualitative insights

A rapidly growing literature highlights a critical need for targeted suicide prevention and risk mitigation strategies for veterans navigating the military-to-civilian transition. Although various risk correlates of suicidal thoughts and behavior among transitioning veterans have been identified, how and why these correlates occur and interact to affect suicidality remains unclear. Guided by the 3 Step Theory of Suicide, 10 recently discharged United States military veterans with a history of post-discharge suicide thoughts, urges, or behaviors completed interviews on the military-to-civilian transition and suicidal thoughts and behaviors occurring during this time. Thematic analysis highlighted an overarching theme of transition whiplash comprising four subthemes: unpreparedness, economic vulnerability, identity disruption, and social alienation. Veterans’ recommendations for improving suicide-prevention efforts included providing a primary contact to provide personalized support and guidance throughout transition and increasing accessibility of peer support. Results provide nuanced insight into experiences that may underlie suicide risk during the military-to-civilian transition.