Whether the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic influences suicide rates in older adults remains unknown. Nevertheless, experts suggest a convergence of risk factors for suicide, which may uniquely impact the elderly.
The weekly Research Update contains the latest news, journal articles, useful links from around the web. Some of this week's topics include:
● Couples in arms: Marital distress, psychopathology, and suicidal ideation in active-duty Army personnel.
● Military Combat, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, and the Course of Alcohol Use Disorders in a Cohort of Australian Vietnam War Veterans.
● Understanding the impact of attachment insecurity on PTSD symptoms among male Veterans and military personn
Years ago, when I was on active duty, I was called to serve as the psychologist on a Root Cause Analysis (RCA) in the case of a recent suicide of a Service member at the installation. While every suicide is a unique loss, this loss crosses my mind frequently. The husband and his wife, returned home very late one night from a date night and began to argue. As the argument escalated, he fatally shot himself. Although there were many precipitating factors, I have often wondered – would it be different if this had happened during the day? Did he feel it was so late he had no one to call and nowhere to go? Was he tired and exhausted?”
