DIGEST - Volume 11, Issue 2

10 TPC Digest 11 TPC Digest | TPC Digest | TPC Digest Read full article and references: Cole, R. F., Cowan, R. G., Dunn, H., & Lincoln, T. (2021). Military spouses’ perceptions of suicide in the military spouse community. The Professional Counselor , 11 (2) , 203–217. doi: 10.15241/rfc.11.2.203 Rebekah F. Cole, Rebecca G. Cowan, Hayley Dunn, Taryn Lincoln Military Spouses’ Perceptions of Suicide in the Military Spouse Community T Military spouses do not serve in combat as service members do, but they are subject to many of the stressors brought on by the military lifestyle that may affect their mental health. In 2019, the U.S. Department of Defense released data regarding military spouse suicide for the first time. In the year prior, 128 military spouses died by suicide, with a suicide rate of 12.1 deaths per 100,000 individuals. In order to gain more insight into the causes of these suicides, as well as necessary prevention measures, this qualitative phenomenological study explored the perceptions of military spouses regarding suicide within their community. In this study, 10 military spouses were interviewed twice and were asked to provide written responses to follow- up questions. Six main themes emerged from the data: (a) spouses’ feelings of loss of control due to constant deployments and moving, (b) spouses’ loss of personal and professional identity in the midst of the military lifestyle and culture, (c) spouses’ fear of seeking mental health services because of a stigma toward doing so within the military culture, (d) spouses’ difficulty and frustration with accessing mental health services at each duty station, (e) supportive connections made within the spouse community as a protective factor against suicide, and (f) spouses’ desire for better communication about available mental health resources from military leadership. T his study’s results hold important implications for both the military and counseling communities. Military leadership should strategize ways to provide easier access to mental health services for spouses, including suicide prevention programs designed specifically for this population. In addition, suicide education programs for spouses may help them identify warning signs in others, ultimately strengthening the protective factor of the military spouse community. Military leadership should also work to reduce the stigma of receiving mental health services, not only for active- duty service members, but for their family members as well. Military leaders might likewise consider the participants’ suggestions regarding direct communication between military leadership and spouses, including a formalized check- in process for each duty station. Mental health counselors are called to be aware of and screen for risk factors of suicide in the military spouse population. Counselors might also create preventative psychoeducational groups for spouses to enhance their sense of connectedness and wellness. These groups would serve to identify spouses who may need additional supportive services to mitigate risk of depression and anxiety as well as other mental health issues. Additionally, when relocations occur, counselors should connect their military spouse clients with mental health services in their new location and, with the permission of the client, reach out to those providers to ensure continuity of care. Finally, mental health counselors should build partnerships with military leadership in order to develop evidence-based resources specific to preventing suicide in the spouse population and collaboratively work to reduce the mental health stigma present in both active-duty service members and military spouse communities. Rebekah F. Cole, PhD, NCC, LPC, is formerly an assistant professor at Arkansas State University and is now a research associate professor at the Uniformed Services University. Rebecca G. Cowan, PhD, NCC, BC-TMH, LPC, DCMHS, is a core faculty member at Walden University. Hayley Dunn is a graduate student at Arkansas State University. Taryn Lincoln is a graduate student at Arkansas State University. Correspondence may be addressed to Rebekah Cole, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Department of Military and Emergency Medicine, 4301 Jones Bridge Rd., Bethesda, MD 20814, rebekah.cole@usuhs.edu.