An editorial paper just published in the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, as the last members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) have returned from Afghanistan, underlines the existence of strong links between Posttraumatic Stress Disorder(PTSD) and suicide risk in active soldiers.
This article published by Alain Brunet (Director, Psychosocial Research Division at the Douglas Mental Health University Institute and Associate professor at McGill University) and Eva Monson (Doctoral student, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University) reviews archival data from the Canadian Community Health Survey - Military Supplement to conclude that there is strong evidence suggesting that PTSD is associated with suicidal risk.
“Thus, the statement that 'deployment per se does not increase the risk of suicide ideation or gesture...' (DFHP, Surgeon General Report, 2013), ignores the fact that deployment is associated with PTSD, and that PTSD is associated with increased suicidality”, says Alain Brunet.
Suicide ideations and attempts are multiplied by 12 and 36, respectively, among CAF members who report a diagnosis of PTSD at some point in their lives. Data demonstrates unequivocally that PTSD increases suicidality, irrespective of whether the PTSD was developed as part of a military deployment or otherwise.

Conclusion: According to this data, targeting and treating CAF members with PTSD should lead to a decrease in the suicide rate in the military.

For other information and interviews:
Florence Meney
Media relations
Communications and Public Affairs
Douglas Mental Health University Institute
Dobell Pavilion, office B-2122
6875 LaSalle Blvd.
Montréal (Québec) H4H 1R3
Tel: 514 761-6131, ext. 2769
Cell : 514-835-3236
florence_dot_meney_At_douglas_dot_mcgill_dot_ca