Suicidal behavior of servicemen: retrospective study

OBJECTIVE. To study features of suicidal behavior in servicemen.

MATERIALS AND METHODS. There was an analysis of 390 cases of complex postmortem forensic psychological and psychiatric examinations and the results of 162 servicemen’s examinations in the psychiatric department, who had made suicidal attempts. In addition, the analysis of five-year reporting records of servicemen’s suicidal behavior was conducted.

RESULTS. Among the reasons for suicides among conscripted servicemen, military-professional problems (burden of military service, fear of responsibility for misconduct, non-statutory relations, difficulties in adapting against the background of service loads) are the most significant, and for contract servicemen of all categories – family and domestic problems (family troubles, love troubles, material and domestic difficulties). Among servicemen who committed suicide, self-hanging and suicide with the use of firearms were the most frequent ways of parting with life for all categories of servicemen. Conscripted servicemen more often committed suicide attempts by self-cutting, while contract privates and sergeants committed suicide by self-poisoning. No clear predominance of any method of suicide attempts was observed among officers and warrant officers.

DOSCUSSION. The lower number of suicides in the Armed Forces is related to the professional-psychological selection and medical-psychological support of servicemen. The majority of suicidal acts were committed by persons without obvious mental disorders. The complex of factors contributing to the realization of suicidal thoughts in practically healthy people lies mainly in the field of psychology and social sphere. However, the study of suicide’s conflict situations, personality traits and emotional sphere hasn’t allowed us to convincingly explain the mechanism of suicides in practically healthy servicemen yet.

CONCLUSION. The tendency to change the proportion of completed suicides towards contract servicemen, serving as privates and sergeants poses new challenges for the improvement of preventive measures in the armed forces. The improvement of the system of preventing suicidal behavior in servicemen should be directed to greater emphasis on medical and psychological support and psychological and pedagogical work with servicemen.

marine medicine, suicide, motive, method, Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, mental health

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