Preventing Suicidal Self-Directed Violence Among Survivors of Military Sexual Trauma: Understanding Risk and Applying Evidence-Based Principles

Military sexual trauma (MST), which is defined as sexual harassment and/or assault during a person's military service, is associated with suicidal self-directed violence. Suicide risk assessment and intervention with survivors of MST should be patient-centered and informed by an understanding of the impact of interpersonal trauma and military service on the survivor's lived experience. Considerations for assessing and intervening upon suicide risk with survivors of MST are discussed, with a particular focus on safety planning, lethal means safety, and psychotherapy. We conclude by discussing necessary future research in suicide prevention in this population. [ Psychiatr Ann . 2020;50(10):437–443.]