The Impact of Military Service on Social Determinants as Predictive Factors for Suicide among Female Veterans

Abstract

Female Veterans experience disproportionately poorer outcomes in mental health and physical health, as well as other conditions, compared to their male counterparts and non-Veteran females. The Arizona Veteran Survey aims to understand the unique experiences of female Veterans in the state of Arizona and assess how these experiences impact their health. The goal is to identify key risk factors contributing to health challenges among this population, enabling the development of targeted interventions. The statewide Arizona Veteran Survey was conducted to analyze the current impact of common social determinants of health for several demographics of Veterans. There were a total of 841 female Veteran respondents. The data on female Veterans' social determinants of health and the association with suicidality was analyzed using chi-square and logistic regression. A variety of social determinants were analyzed to evaluate their association with suicidality. Female Veteran respondents were 1.4 times more likely to experience suicidality if they were seeking care for mental health concerns, 1.8 times more likely if they felt isolated or lonely, 1.7 times more likely if they felt depressed or hopeless, and 2.5 times more likely to experience suicidality if they struggled to pay for or access medication in the past 12 months leading up to the survey. Female Veterans are a growing population disproportionately affected by experiences that elevate their risk of suicidality. The findings in this paper highlight the need for expanding services and resources while addressing inequities to improve overall well-being.

Keywords: Female veterans; Health; MST; Suicide.