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MHSRS: Military Officers' Experiences With Soldiers' Suicidality
Benjamin T Paul1, Catherine G Greeno2, Jonathan B Singer3
1Department of Mental Health, Womack Army Medical Center, Fort Bragg, NC 28310, United States.
Military Medicine
|August 6, 2026
Summary
U.S. Army Behavioral Health Officers and Commanders believe suicide theories are important but lack data to assess them. Addressing stigma and improving access to care are key for suicide prevention efforts.
Area of Science:
- Military Suicide Prevention
- Behavioral Health Officer (BHO) and Commander (CDR) Perspectives
- Suicidality Theory Application
Background:
- U.S. Army soldiers face higher suicide risks than civilians.
- Behavioral Health Officers (BHOs) and Commanders (CDRs) are crucial in managing soldier suicide incidents.
- Limited understanding exists regarding officers' views on suicide predictors, barriers, and facilitators to care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine BHO and CDR views on the observance and importance of suicide theories (Interpersonal Theory of Suicide, Psychache, Military Transition Theory).
- To identify barriers and facilitators to care for suicidal soldiers from the perspective of BHOs and CDRs.
- To assess officers' nomination of soldiers with suicide-related incidents and their views on theoretical constructs.
Main Methods:
- Surveys were distributed to current and former BHOs and CDRs using convenience and snowball sampling.
- Participants identified soldiers with suicide-related incidents and rated the importance of theory constructs.
- Barriers and facilitators to care were assessed, with data analyzed using descriptives, chi-square tests, and independent sample t-tests.
Main Results:
- Fifty BHOs and 48 CDRs participated, endorsing the importance of theory constructs but noting limited assessment information.
- BHOs rated perceived burdensomeness and psychache (Interpersonal Theory of Suicide) higher than CDRs.
- Key barriers included stigma, fear of career impact, and long waiting lists; facilitators included peer, leadership, and family support.
Conclusions:
- Army officers believe suicide theory constructs are observed during incidents, suggesting potential for enhanced prevention and intervention.
- Utilizing theoretical frameworks could improve suicide prevention strategies and postvention efforts within the Army.
- Future training and policy should incorporate these theoretical insights to better support suicidal soldiers.
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