title: 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).
  
  
  RESULTS
  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 was approximately two to three times higher than the risk for the same age groups in the general and serving populations (age-specific rate ratios ranging from 170 to 290). The risk of suicide for men aged 30-49 y was lower than that in the general population. The risk was persistent but may have been at its highest in the first 2 y following discharge. The risk of suicide was greatest in males, those who had served in the Army, those with a short length of service, and those of lower rank. The rate of contact with specialist mental health was lowest in the age groups at greatest risk of suicide (14% for those aged under 20 y, 20% for those aged 20-24 y).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Young men who leave the UK Armed Forces were at increased risk of suicide. This may reflect preservice vulnerabilities rather than factors related to service experiences or discharge. Preventive strategies might include practical and psychological preparation for discharge and encouraging appropriate help-seeking behaviour once individuals have left the services.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Suicide Prevention, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom. nav.kapur@manchester.ac.uk
authors.forename: Navneet
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kapur
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: While
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Blatchley
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bray
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Harrison
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012306:Risk; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013997:Time Factors; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult