Past Issues

Objective: There is no predictive model for risk factors that are associated with suicidal attempts by young adult servicemen in Taiwan. This study was aimed to determine the characteristics of male servicemen who attempted suicide in a military setting, and to examine the differences between suicide attempters and control subjects who did not have a history of suicide attempts during their mili-tary service. Method:： Suicide attempters (n = 73) and control subjects (n = 149) were questioned about information of personal demographic characteristics, per-sonal and family background, and stressful events in their lives. Those two groups were then compared for the risk factors using Chi-square tests and multiple logistic regression analysis. Results: Risk factors such as poor parental relationships (p< 0.05), a family history of suicide (p< 0.05), previous suicide attempts (p< 0.05), relational problems with authorities (p< 0.01), maladjustment to the military en-vironment (p= 0.001), being far away from family members (p< 0.05), failed in-timate relationships with a girlfriend or wife (p< 0.05), and stress of personal health problems (p< 0.05) showed significant associations with suicide attempts among male service personnel. Conclusion: It is important to establish a warning system and data bank of military trainees who have previous suicide attempts, poor parental relationships, and a family history of suicide. Referral for psychiatric intervention is necessary when soldiers are facing severe stress in the army.