Citation

Culhane D, Szymkowiak D, Schinka JA. Psychiatr. Serv. 2019; ePub(ePub): appips201800415.

Affiliation

School of Social Policy and Practice, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia (Culhane); National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, D.C. (Szymkowiak); School of Aging Studies, University of South Florida, Tampa (Schinka).

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, American Psychiatric Association)

DOI

10.1176/appi.ps.201800415

PMID

31337320

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the temporal sequencing of a first-recorded episode of homelessness and treatment for suicidal ideation or attempt.

METHODS: Data were from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Corporate Data Warehouse and contained medical records of service use dates and associated ICD codes for care provided by the Veterans Health Administration. The analysis examined treatment for suicidality before and after a first record of homelessness ("onset") among 152,519 veterans. The second analysis examined the rate of treatment for suicidality among 156,288 veterans with any indication of homelessness. The third analysis examined the rate of homelessness among 145,770 veterans with indication of suicidality.

RESULTS: Among newly homeless veterans, treatment for suicidality peaked just before onset of homelessness. Thirteen percent of homeless veterans had evidence of suicidality. Twenty-nine percent of veterans with evidence of suicidality appeared to have concurrent homelessness.

CONCLUSIONS: Homelessness should be considered a primary risk factor for suicidality.

Language: en

Keywords

Homelessness; Suicide and self-destructive behavior