Preventing Suicide Among Survivors of Military Sexual Violence: Identifying Critical Risk Periods and Factors That Attenuate and Exacerbate Risk
Abstract
Study Rationale: Military sexual trauma (MST) includes sexual harassment or assault that occurred during military Service. Individuals who experience MST are more likely to experience suicidal ideation and attempt and to die by suicide. Mental health symptoms only explain part of this risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Research suggests that MST survivors experience stigma regarding MST that may increase their risk for suicide. The military institutional response to MST, whether negative or positive (called institutional betrayal and courage, respectively), also appears to be relevant to MST survivors’ risk for suicidal ideation and attempt following MST, but has been understudied and existing research has significant drawbacks. Additionally, although we know that MST survivors are at increased risk for suicide, it is unknown when their suicide risk is highest. This information is important for understanding when institutions like the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs should reach out to MST survivors to provide additional support to prevent suicide. Finally, suicide risk appears to be even higher among MST survivors who are men or who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or queer (LGBQ), but past research has generally focused on women and heterosexual individuals. Objectives: This study aims to (1) identify when MST survivors are most likely to experience suicidal ideation and suicide attempt, relative to key events (such as military separation); (2) examine whether the roles of institutional betrayal, institutional courage, and stigma in MST survivors’ experiences of suicidal ideation and attempt differ across the transition from active-duty to veteran status; (3) describe MST survivors’ lived experiences and perspectives on institutional betrayal, courage, and stigma in their experiences of suicidal ideation and attempt, and describe their perspectives on how these can be addressed; (4) explore how our findings differ based on gender, sexual orientation, and active-duty vs. Veteran status. To address these aims, we will conduct an online survey and qualitative interviews with MST survivors. We will survey 600 MST survivors, equally divided by gender (300 women, 300 men) and between active-duty personnel and Veterans (300 of each). We will oversample LGBQ participants (n=120). Our survey asks participants about their MST experiences, history of suicidal ideation and attempt, stigma about MST (their own beliefs and what they think military leaders think), institutional betrayal (such as how the military institution responded to MST, whether they made it difficult to report), institutional courage, brief depression and PTSD screens, military Service characteristics, and demographics. Brief measures will be used to keep the survey short and ensure that risk of distress is minimized. We will provide information about how to get help to everyone who participates. We have used these measures and safety procedures in previous research with active-duty Service Members and Veterans. Qualitative interviews (1 hour long) will be conducted via telephone or virtually. All interviewers are trained to minimize distress and can facilitate access to a licensed psychologist, if needed. We will interview MST survivors of differing genders (e.g., women, men) and sexual orientations (heterosexual, LGBQ) to see whether MST survivors’ experiences and recommendations for preventing suicide differ based on these characteristics. Finally, we will form two groups for this study to help us finalize study materials and determine how best to disseminate our findings: (1) a Veteran Engagement Group that will include active-duty personnel and Veterans with lived experiences of MST and (2) a Community Advisory Board that will include clinicians and leaders with expertise in MST and suicide prevention. Applicability: This research is applicable to Service Members, Veterans, and clinicians and policy makers who serve MST survivors,
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Dec 28, 2022
- Source ID
- W81XWH2211102
Entities
People
- Rebecca Blais
Organizations
- Arizona State University
- United States Army