Proficient military medical experts who can patch-up a severely wounded Marine in Afghanistan, prescribe medication to an ill soldier in the field, or care for an ailing tribal elder in Kenya often must start their training all over again in the civilian world.
Traumatic childhood and combat experiences associated with veterans suicidal thoughts
The rate of suicide among post-9/11 military veterans has been rising for nearly a decade. While there are a number of factors associated with suicide, veterans have unique experiences that may contribute to them thinking about killing themselves.
Compared to their civilian peers, veterans are more likely to report having experienced traumatic adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) such as physical and emotional abuse. Veterans also engage in life-threatening combat and witness the corollaries of combat such as seeing colleagues killed or wounded.
Keith Aronson, Associate Director, Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness at Penn State and the Social Science Research Institute (SSRI)
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Adverse childhood and combat experiences may drive veterans’ suicidal thoughts
The rate of suicide among post-9/11 military veterans has been rising for nearly a decade. While there are a number of factors associated with suicide, veterans have unique experiences that may contribute to them thinking about killing themselves.
“Compared to their civilian peers, veterans are more likely to report having experienced traumatic adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) such as physical and emotional abuse,” stated Keith Aronson, associate director of the Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness at Penn State and the Social Science Research Institute (SSRI). “Veterans also engage in life-threatening combat and witness the corollaries of combat such as seeing colleagues killed or wounded.”