Research reportPrevalence and correlates of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts among veterans in primary care referred for a mental health evaluation

- This study assessed suicidal ideation and attempts in relation to clinical factors in primary care.
- Suicidal ideation was associated with mental health diagnoses such as depression.
- Suicide attempts were associated with drug use, but not PTSD.
- Primary care is an important setting for suicide prevention in veterans.

BackgroundThe Veterans Health Administration has made concerted efforts to increase mental health services offered in primary care. However, few studies have evaluated correlates of suicidal ideation and suicide attempt in veterans in primary care-mental health integration (PCMHI). The purpose of the present study is to examine associations between suicidal ideation and suicide attempts as dependent variables and demographic and clinical factors as the independent variables.MethodsVeterans (n=3004) referred from primary care to PCMHI were contacted for further assessment, which included past-year severity of suicidal thoughts (none, low, high) and attempts using the Paykel Suicide Scale, mental health disorders, and illicit drug use. Multinomial logistic regression models were used to identify correlates of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts.ResultsThoughts of taking one's life was endorsed by 24% of participants and suicide attempts were reported in 2%. In adjusted models, depression, psychosis, mania, PTSD and generalized anxiety disorder were associated with high severity suicidal ideation, but not suicide attempt. Illicit drug use was not associated with suicidal ideation, but was the only variable associated with suicide attempt.LimitationsThe study was cross-sectional, focused on one clinical setting, and the suicide attempt analyses had limited power.ConclusionsPCMHI is a critical setting to assess suicidal ideation and suicide attempt and researchers and clinicians should be aware that the differential correlates of these suicide-related factors. Future research is needed to identify prospective risk factors and assess the utility of follow-up care in preventing suicide.