The Impact of Relationships Within Combat Units on Post-Deployment Suicide Risk
Multiple deployment factors may affect suicidality in combat veterans. The relationships between combat deployments and suicidality are complex and not completely understood. Studies of stress in the military and psychological effects of military actions are mostly focused on stressors relating to c...
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MDPI AG
2024-11-01
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| Series: | Behavioral Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/14/11/1040 |
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| author | Leo Sher |
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| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Multiple deployment factors may affect suicidality in combat veterans. The relationships between combat deployments and suicidality are complex and not completely understood. Studies of stress in the military and psychological effects of military actions are mostly focused on stressors relating to combat operations. However, many studies suggest that interactions within combat units affect post-deployment psychiatric conditions, suicidal ideation, and behavior. The goal of this article is to review and discuss how relationships within combat units may influence post-deployment suicide risk. Studies of the relationships within combat units are generally focused on two aspects: unit cohesion and harassment/abuse. Considerable evidence suggests that service members who report strong unit cohesion have a lower risk of post-deployment psychiatric disorders and suicidal behavior. Studies examining deployment sexual and non-sexual harassment and abuse have found that combat veterans who experience harassment and abuse during deployment are at heightened post-deployment suicide risk. Sound post-deployment social support and the efficient treatment of psychiatric disorders may mitigate the suicide risk associated with adverse relationships within combat units. Improvements in units’ cohesion and the prevention of harassment/abuse during a military deployment are necessary to reduce post-deployment psychiatric pathology, including suicidal behavior. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-eeee48dab2de4784a0301ef11b7f493a |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2076-328X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Behavioral Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-eeee48dab2de4784a0301ef11b7f493a2025-08-20T02:28:07ZengMDPI AGBehavioral Sciences2076-328X2024-11-011411104010.3390/bs14111040The Impact of Relationships Within Combat Units on Post-Deployment Suicide RiskLeo Sher0Inpatient Psychiatry, James J. Peters VA Medical Center, New York, NY 10468, USAMultiple deployment factors may affect suicidality in combat veterans. The relationships between combat deployments and suicidality are complex and not completely understood. Studies of stress in the military and psychological effects of military actions are mostly focused on stressors relating to combat operations. However, many studies suggest that interactions within combat units affect post-deployment psychiatric conditions, suicidal ideation, and behavior. The goal of this article is to review and discuss how relationships within combat units may influence post-deployment suicide risk. Studies of the relationships within combat units are generally focused on two aspects: unit cohesion and harassment/abuse. Considerable evidence suggests that service members who report strong unit cohesion have a lower risk of post-deployment psychiatric disorders and suicidal behavior. Studies examining deployment sexual and non-sexual harassment and abuse have found that combat veterans who experience harassment and abuse during deployment are at heightened post-deployment suicide risk. Sound post-deployment social support and the efficient treatment of psychiatric disorders may mitigate the suicide risk associated with adverse relationships within combat units. Improvements in units’ cohesion and the prevention of harassment/abuse during a military deployment are necessary to reduce post-deployment psychiatric pathology, including suicidal behavior.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/14/11/1040combat veterandeploymentunit cohesionharassmentsuicide |
| spellingShingle | Leo Sher The Impact of Relationships Within Combat Units on Post-Deployment Suicide Risk Behavioral Sciences combat veteran deployment unit cohesion harassment suicide |
| title | The Impact of Relationships Within Combat Units on Post-Deployment Suicide Risk |
| title_full | The Impact of Relationships Within Combat Units on Post-Deployment Suicide Risk |
| title_fullStr | The Impact of Relationships Within Combat Units on Post-Deployment Suicide Risk |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Impact of Relationships Within Combat Units on Post-Deployment Suicide Risk |
| title_short | The Impact of Relationships Within Combat Units on Post-Deployment Suicide Risk |
| title_sort | impact of relationships within combat units on post deployment suicide risk |
| topic | combat veteran deployment unit cohesion harassment suicide |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/14/11/1040 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT leosher theimpactofrelationshipswithincombatunitsonpostdeploymentsuiciderisk AT leosher impactofrelationshipswithincombatunitsonpostdeploymentsuiciderisk |