In the military, suicide often occurs due to a lack of resilience among veterans, who need cognitive, evidence-based strategies to handle stress and anxiety. To assess a client for the risk of committing suicide, it is important to focus on his or her legal and financial challenges, as well as relationships (Rubin et al., 2012). For example, if the family cannot adjust to the new environment after the deployment of the military member or if there are significant financial troubles, the risk should be considered as high. In case the family has a history of mental problems, and they lack the tools to strengthen the ties between the spouses and children, the risk is also critical. In addition, attention should be paid to the client’s nutrition, medical access, and the impact of the environment he or she lives in. In terms of social well-being, a counselor is to evaluate the client’s sense of belongings and the perceived extent of isolation from others. Since the use of substances is associated with the development of depression and PTSD, it is another alarming factor.
Spiritual beliefs play one of the key roles in the prevention of suicides in active military members and veterans. Namely, the values that are related to ethics and morality can serve as protective factors. Therefore, counselors should promote the spiritual well-being of clients by helping them to identify their life mission and goals (Rubin et al., 2012). For example, specific spiritual experiences can be discussed, the client can be referred to a church, and a sense of belongingness should be developed. Faith leads to hope for the better, which is useful to decrease the feelings of loneliness and helplessness.
Reference
Rubin, A., Weiss, E. L., & Coll, J. E. (2012). Handbook of military social work. John Wiley & Sons.