Understanding Failed Relationships as a Factor Related to Suicide and Suicidal Behavior among Military Personnel

Suicide among service members is associated with several demographic and social risk factors, especially precipitating intimate partner relationship issues, but the cause and nature of these failed relationships in the military have not been well explored. Service members have histories leading up to a suicide analogous to those among civilians. However, separations from families, deployments, combat or other trauma, command climate, and medical and psychological injuries are also stressors and may be linked to additional risks related to substance abuse, sexual dysfunction, domestic violence, lifestyle disagreements, or secretive thoughts and behaviors, which distance couples and add to disintegration of the supportive dyad the relationship could provide. Loss of vital social supports impacts resilience and facilitates a mindset enabling suicidal or other harmful thoughts and actions. Therefore, prevention programs that build, maintain, and sustain resilience are critical, as is availability of mental health clinicians trained to address relationship issues.