Short period of military service raises risk of self-harm

 People who have served in the Armed Forces for a short time are at increased risk of self-harm, according to a university study.

Records of more than 50,000 veterans living in Scotland who served between 1960 and 2012 were compared with non-veterans to look at the long-term risks of non-fatal self-harm.

A research team from the University of Glasgow found that overall, veterans had a 30 per cent increase in risk, but at the highest risk were people who left service before completing initial training – they were found to have an increased risk of 70 per cent. Those who had served the longest were at 60 per cent reduced risk.

The study found there was an increased risk in both the youngest and middle-aged people but did not show any significant increase in female veterans.

Researchers said it suggests the biggest risk factors come from veterans’ “pre-service life”.

The study used data from the Scottish Veterans Health Study, to examine hospital admissions for non-fatal self-harm, and is published in Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology.