Effect of Altitude on Veteran Suicide Rates

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Public Health
• Veterans Affairs

Background:

• Suicide rates in the general U.S. population show a correlation with altitude.
• Understanding factors contributing to suicide among military veterans is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the relationship between state-level suicide rates in military veterans and mean altitude in 2014.
• To investigate associations with both firearm-related and nonfirearm-related veteran suicides.

Main Methods:

• Calculated Pearson's correlation coefficients between state mean altitude and veteran suicide rates.
• Employed mixed linear models to assess the association between altitude and suicide, controlling for demographic factors.

Main Results:

• State mean altitude was significantly correlated with total veteran suicide rates (r=0.678, p<0.0001).
• Significant correlations were also found for firearm-related (r=0.578, p<0.0001) and nonfirearm-related (r=0.609, p<0.0001) veteran suicides.
• Mixed models confirmed altitude's significant association with total (β=0.331, p<0.05), firearm (β=0.282, p<0.05), and nonfirearm (β=0.393, p<0.05) veteran suicides.

Conclusions:

• This study supports existing evidence linking higher altitude with increased suicide rates.
• Findings suggest a need for further research into the specific mechanisms connecting altitude and suicide risk in the veteran population.