title: Risk and protective factors for suicidal ideation and suicide attempts among deployed Danish soldiers from 1990 to 2009.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study was undertaken to identify risk and protective factors for suicidal ideation and suicide attempts among deployed Danish soldiers. Research on suicide among Danish veterans has only been conducted to a limited degree.
  
  
  METHODS
  The method applied was a questionnaire survey administered to a population of 1,264 Danish soldiers deployed from 1990 to 2009. The data were analyzed using backward logistic regression modeling in SAS 9.2.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the logistic regression analysis, the following were significant risk factors for suicidal ideation: drug abuse, a poor financial situation before deployment, a heavy workload and/or repatriation during deployment, and attending a poor athletic and recreation program after deployment. Significant protective factors against suicidal ideation were support from friends at home during deployment and appreciation by the general population after deployment. Significant risk factors for suicide attempts were an unhappy childhood and pointless tasks during deployment. No significant protective factors against suicide attempts were identified.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  On the basis of the results presented in this study, intervention against suicidal behavior would benefit from screening for certain childhood issues, drug abuse, and poor financial situation before deployment. During deployment, measures should be taken to minimize the amount of meaningless tasks and heavy workloads. At the same time, efficient ways of communicating with home should be ensured. After deployment, good athletic and recreation programs should be warranted for all military personnel-including repatriated soldiers. Finally, priority should be given to ensure public appreciation of what deployed soldiers accomplish.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Suicide Research Denmark, Søndergade 17, 5000 Odense C, Denmark.
authors.forename: Bo Andersen
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Ejdesgaard
authors.affiliation: Centre for Suicide Research Denmark, Søndergade 17, 5000 Odense C, Denmark.
authors.forename: Lilian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zøllner
authors.affiliation: Centre for Suicide Research Denmark, Søndergade 17, 5000 Odense C, Denmark.
authors.forename: Børge Frank
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.affiliation: Danish Armed Forces Health Service, Køgevej 167, 4621 Gadstrup, Denmark.
authors.forename: Hans-Ole
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Jørgensen
authors.affiliation: Centre for Suicide Research Denmark, Søndergade 17, 5000 Odense C, Denmark.
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kähler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003718:Denmark; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D065840:Protective Factors; D012307:Risk Factors; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D013406:Suicide, Attempted; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult