Student Veterans’ Social Justice Identity and Perceptions of Suicide Prevention

Abstract

Suicide is a leading cause of veteran deaths in the United States. Importantly, student veterans with more favorable perceptions of suicide prevention may be more likely to engage in such efforts. Social justice identity includes a commitment to action. Therefore, social justice-oriented student veterans may be more likely to commit to the mission of suicide prevention to protect themselves and others. This study sought to examine how social justice identity predicts student veterans’ perceptions of suicide prevention. Cross-sectional survey data collected from 85 student veterans explored how their social justice identity predicted their perceptions of suicide prevention. A canonical correlation analysis revealed that social justice identity (most notably, self-efficacy and perceived supports or barriers) was a significant predictor of student veterans’ perceptions of suicide prevention (most notably, perceived behavioral control and intent). Mental health professionals and university administration should consider ways to enhance or establish veteran-specific resources, including student veteran peer supports with a social justice identity.