Suicide after leaving the UK armed forces--a cohort study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Few studies have examined suicide risk in individuals once they have left the military. We aimed to investigate the rate, timing, and risk factors for suicide in all those who had left the UK Armed Forces (1996-2005).

Methods and findings

We carried out a cohort study of ex-Armed Forces personnel by linking national databases of discharged personnel and suicide deaths (which included deaths receiving either a suicide or undetermined verdict). Comparisons were made with both general and serving populations. During the study period 233,803 individuals left the Armed Forces and 224 died by suicide. Although the overall rate of suicide was not greater than that in the general population, the risk of suicide in men aged 24 y and younger who had left the Armed Forces wa

SUBMITTER: Kapur N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2650723 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature