With up to double the risk of suicide for veterans of the Canadian Armed Forces and Royal Canadian Mounted Police than in the general population, comprehensive support for those who have served and their loved ones are critical to wrap around suicide prevention efforts. Veteran suicide risk is 1.4 to 1.9 times higher than in the general population, with women veterans almost two times more likely to die by suicide than their civilian counterparts.
They may experience mental health conditions or thoughts of suicide themselves, independent of their loved ones’ experiences. In addition, they can be affected by their loved one’s suicidality and mental health in many ways, such as burnout, compassion fatigue, stigma, or even experiencing suicidal thoughts and behaviours themselves. There is no ideal situation when dealing with the complex and multifaceted experience of suicide.