Researchers launch Operation Deep Dive to examine veteran suicide risk factors
February 02, 2018
A new two-part study aims to carry out an in-depth investigation into the local-level risk factors that contribute to veteran suicides. Researchers plan to use the findings to develop a holistic plan to guide suicide prevention efforts within communities.
University of Alabama is conducting research in collaboration with the America’s Warrior Partnership (AWP) — a nonprofit veteran services organization. The initiative, dubbed Operation Deep Dive, is being funded by a $2.9 million grant from the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation. Foundation President John Damonti said he hoped it would help people “better understand what was happening at the community level to design better, more targeted intervention programs.”
In the yearlong first phase, researchers will carry out a retrospective analysis of veteran suicides in the last five years. They will examine the differences in suicide rates between veterans who used Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) services and those who did not, as well as the impact of less-than-honorable discharges. What makes the research innovative is that it will include veterans of all genders, discharges and lifespans using data from AWP, VA and the Department of Defense.
The second phase will seek input from mental health specialists, medical professionals, veterans and others. Researchers plan to use the findings to perform a so-called sociocultural autopsy of suicides reported over the next three years.
AWP President and CEO Jim Lorraine said the study aimed to spot the early warning signs and triggers of veteran suicide to allow intervention before it is too late. Researchers will explore the link between community engagement and veteran suicide prevention. The idea is to identify trends and patterns among veterans who commit suicide by retracing their steps during their last year. The goal is to ensure no veteran fails to receive key support services or slips through the cracks.