The Role of Past Suicidal Behavior on Current Suicidality: A Retrospective Study in the Israeli Military

Leah Shelef, Jessica M Rabbany, Peter M Gutierrez, Ron Kedem, Ariel Ben Yehuda, J. John Mann and Assaf Yacobi
Additional contact information
Leah Shelef: Department of Health and Well-Being, IDF’s Medical Corps, Israel Defense Forces, Ramat Gan 5262000, Israel
Jessica M Rabbany: Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, Colton, CA 92324, USA
Peter M Gutierrez: Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
Ron Kedem: Statistican, Medical Corps-Israel Defense Forces, Ramat Gan 5262000, Israel
Ariel Ben Yehuda: Department of Health and Well-Being, IDF’s Medical Corps, Israel Defense Forces, Ramat Gan 5262000, Israel
J. John Mann: Division of Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
Assaf Yacobi: Beer Ya’akov-Ness Ziona Mental Health Medical Center, Beer Yaakov 70350, Israel

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 2, 1-14

Abstract: Past suicide attempts are a significant risk factor for future suicidality. Therefore, the present military-based study examined the past suicidal behavior of soldiers who recently made a severe suicide attempt. Our sample consisted of 65 active-duty soldiers (61.5% males), between the ages of 18 and 28 years old (M = 20.4, SD ± 1.3). The inclusion criterion was a recent severe suicide attempt, requiring at least a 24 h hospitalization. This sample was divided into two groups, according to previous suicidal behavior, namely whether their first suicide attempt was before or after enlistment ( n = 25; 38.5% and n = 40; 61.5%, respectively). We then examined the lethality and intent of the recent event in regard to this division. Four measures were used to assess the subjects’ suicidal characteristics: the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale, the Self-Harm Behavior Questionnaire, the Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised, and the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation. No significant difference in the severity of the suicide attempts (either actual or potential severity) were found between those who had suicide attempts before enlistment and those who had their first attempt in the service. As a matter of fact, most of the suicide attempts that occurred for the first time during military service had used a violent method (58.3%, n = 21). Finally, using multivariate analyses, we found that current thoughts and behavior, rather than past suicidality, was the strongest predictor for the lethality of suicide attempts.

Keywords: suicide attempt; suicide plan; suicidal ideation; suicidal threats; military service (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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