Suicidal Ideation Severity in Transgender and Cisgender Elevated-Risk Military Service Members at Baseline and Three-Month Follow-Up

Abstract

There is a dearth of research on mental health in transgender military service members, despite 21.4% of eligible transgender United States citizens having served in the military. The aim of this study was to examine differences in suicide risk and ideation based on gender identity in elevated risk service members over a 3-month period. Participants included 1,041 military service members identified as at risk of suicide by military treatment providers. Of these participants, 1,027 provided baseline data and 726 provided follow-up data. Baseline suicide risk was measured using the Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire—Revised, and baseline suicidal ideation was derived from the Self Harm Behaviors Questionnaire. Follow-up data on suicidal ideation were collected using the Adult Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire. At baseline, differences in suicide risk and ideation between transgender and cisgender military members were not significant. However, at the 3-month follow-up, transgender service members had significantly higher levels of suicidal ideation than cisgender service members. In our sample, at-risk transgender service members do not differ from their at-risk cisgender counterparts in severity of suicidal risk or ideation. These findings have implications for future research to inform military policy and mental health services.