Exploring suicidality risk in veterans resident in Northern Ireland

This project will explore the psychosocial determinants of suicidality among veteran’s resident in NI (a specific high-risk population) via both secondary data analysis of the Northern Ireland Veteran Health and Wellbeing Survey (NIVHWS) and family interviews, and to explore family support needs after bereavement. It is led by Professor Cherie Armour at Queen’s University Belfast.

The purpose of the project is to understand how common suicidality is among the Northern Ireland veteran population, and to explore what factors play an integral role in increasing the risk of suicidality, in order to improve understanding and inform the development of preventative strategies and psychoeducation programmes.

The study also aims to explore whether bereaved by suicide families have unique support needs associated their military context, if in their lived experiences these needs were/are being met, and what type of support, if any, was/is preferential.

The results will help to shape existing services locally in NI and inform the development of new ones where required.

The project will look into the high-risk population of veterans who live in Northern Ireland, to explore the root causes of suicidal feelings.

The research team will also analyse data from the Northern Ireland Veteran Health and Wellbeing Study (NIVHWS) and conduct family interviews, to explore family support needs after bereavement. This existing data will enable to tease out potential predictors of suicidality in veterans living in Northern Ireland.

What are the psychosocial determinants of suicidality among the veterans resident in Northern Ireland?

The ‘Exploring suicidality risk in veteran’s resident in Northern Ireland’ is currently seeking Northern Ireland veteran family participants with lived experience of losing a veteran loved one to suicide.