Distress and Factors Associated with Suicidal Ideation in Veterans Living with Cancer

Eliminating veteran suicide is a top priority for the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Veterans with cancer may be at particular risk for suicidal ideation (SI). The current study aimed to understand factors associated with distress in veterans with cancer who were referred for psychology services, and identify problems associated with SI.

Health records of veterans with cancer (N = 174) were reviewed to abstract data, including results of National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Distress Thermometer and Problems List and clinical suicide risk assessments.

Veterans with severe distress were significantly more likely to endorse SI and have a history of suicide attempt(s) when compared with veterans with mild or moderate distress (χ² = 18.36, P < .001). Of the problems endorsed on the NCCN Problems List, family problems were most strongly linked to SI (χ² = 5.54, degrees of freedom [df] = 1, P = .02). Specifically, veterans who endorsed problems with their partner were 5 times more likely to experience SI when compared with veterans who did not endorse this problem (Wald = 15.142; df = 1, P < .001).

This study is among the first to find partner problems as a suicide risk factor for veterans with cancer; and, underscore the importance of assessing for partner problems and suicidal ideation among veterans with cancer. This study supports the VA mission to end veteran suicide and addresses a gap in current literature by investigating the understudied population of veterans living with cancer and risk factors for SI.