SouthernWorldwide.com – Veterans who have been diagnosed with cancer are facing a surprisingly high risk of suicide attempts, according to a recent study.
This elevated risk is particularly pronounced in the initial six months following a cancer diagnosis and can unfortunately persist for up to five years, researchers have found.
The study, published in JAMA Oncology, analyzed data from over 292,000 veterans diagnosed with cancer between 2014 and 2023. This data was sourced from the Veterans Health Administration.
Researchers compared the cancer patient group to the general population to assess the rate of suicidal self-directed violence (SSDV), which includes both fatal and nonfatal suicide attempts.
Veterans diagnosed with cancer exhibited a suicide attempt rate of 203 per 100,000 individuals. The study highlights that this rate is “significantly higher than the general population.”
The research also identified specific factors that correlate with higher SSDV rates. These include veterans experiencing severe frailty, those with chronic mental health conditions, individuals with advanced cancer, and those reporting high pain scores.
Furthermore, the study indicated that overwhelming distress associated with a cancer diagnosis, its treatment, and long-term consequences can put patients at risk of suicidal behavior well into their survivorship period, even after active treatment has concluded.
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The highest risk was observed within the first six months post-diagnosis, but the elevated risk continued to be a concern for up to five years.
Analysis revealed that younger veterans, under the age of 45, as well as female veterans and those diagnosed with central nervous system cancer or thyroid cancer, showed higher rates of nonfatal suicide attempts.
Prescription medications, including opioids, were the most common method used in nonfatal suicide attempts. Firearms, however, were the most prevalent method in fatal suicide attempts.
It is important to note that the study was observational, meaning it identified an association between cancer diagnosis and suicide risk but did not definitively prove that cancer directly causes suicidal behavior.
Dr. Donald R. Sullivan, the lead author of the study and an associate professor of medicine at the OHSU School of Medicine, described the situation as a “concerning public health crisis that disproportionately affects America’s servicemen and servicewomen.”
In a statement, Dr. Sullivan emphasized that a cancer diagnosis can be a “profound shock” for individuals.
“Even cancers with good survival rates can trigger an immediate fear of death,” he explained. “That initial moment, combined with pain, treatment side effects, anxiety or depression, can be incredibly destabilizing.”
Dr. Whaley, who was not involved in the study, commented that “more investigation and action is needed to medicate the higher percentage of veterans diagnosed with cancer committing suicide.”
He stressed the importance of understanding the “chain of events and upstream factors” and sharing the study’s findings with organizations that support veterans.
Dr. Whaley also highlighted the critical need to recognize that health encompasses both mental and physical well-being, particularly for military service members.
“Just as we trained in physical fitness daily, we must exercise our mental health in the same manner,” he stated. “Veterans sometimes need the tools to do that.”
He further noted that while veterans are often adept at supporting each other, they may struggle with asking for help. Therefore, he urged loved ones and those within the veteran community to be vigilant for warning signs of mental health decline.
The number of veteran suicides is reportedly 425% higher than the number of combat deaths since 9/11.
“Despite good intentions, the decline in the number of suicides is not dropping enough to end this scourge,” Dr. Whaley concluded. “We need to combine efforts in research, outreach and care… It is a national crisis that needs a national-level task force.”
