Intersecting Risks: Addressing PTSD and Suicide Among Vulnerable Veteran Populations
A special issue of Behavioral Sciences (ISSN 2076-328X). This special issue belongs to the section "Health Psychology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 29 November 2025 | Viewed by 68
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The incidence of veteran suicides continues to rise each year, despite efforts to raise awareness and implement prevention strategies, and research indicates that the risk factors for veteran suicide attempts and fatalities are complex and multifaceted. The most vulnerable veterans often have trauma histories and suffer from PTSD. Additional challenges that increase suicide risk among these veterans include involvement in the criminal justice system, homelessness, identifying as Native American, and being a woman.
Compounding the effects of suicidality and PTSD are self and public stigma, which hinder veterans from seeking necessary support. In response, this Special Issue aims to explore how these intersecting risk factors heighten the need for comprehensive suicide prevention efforts targeting vulnerable veteran populations. We also invite studies investigating how stigma acts as a barrier to accessing PTSD and suicide-related services, particularly among these groups.
We encourage submissions that detail innovative outreach and assessment strategies, including those implemented in settings outside veteran service centers and the use of artificial intelligence, as well as interventions that incorporate stigma reduction to enhance access. Tailored approaches for vulnerable populations, including justice-involved veterans, Native Americans, and women, are highly encouraged.
Dr. Sean Lauderdale
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- PTSD
- veterans
- trauma
- suicide
- suicide attempts
- suicide deaths
- veteran suicides
- public stigma
- self-stigma
- women veterans
- Native American veterans
- justice-involved veterans
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