Are UN peacekeepers at risk for suicide?

Media reports connecting UN peacekeeping dudes by Canadian soldiers to thei r subsequent suicide prompted this study of peacekeeping as suicide risk. I n a case-control design we retrospectively compared 66 suicides in the Cana dian military between 1990 and 1995 with two control groups: (a) 2,601 cont rols randomly selected from the electronic military database and (b) 66 mat ched controls with complete personnel and medical data. S;Ve found no incre ased risk of suicide in peacekeepers except among a subgroup of air force p ersonnel. Here confounding individual factors, isolation from supports, and possibly inadequate preparation for deployment elucidated their suicides. Theater of deployment (e.g., Bosnia) did not affect the suicide rate. Milit ary suicides experienced psychosocial stresses and psychiatric illness more often than their matched controls. We conclude that although peacekeeping per se does not increase overall suicide risk, military lifestyles may stra in interpersonal relationships, encourage alcohol abuse, and contribute to psychiatric illness and suicide in a minority of vulnerable individuals irr espective of peacekeeping assignment. Careful selection, and preparatory mi litary training that encourages intragroup bonding and mutual support, mall protect against suicide risk.