The Special Operations Association of America (SOAA) is the leading voice for people who serve or have served in the U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF). A 501(c)(19) veterans nonprofit, the organization advocates on behalf of the SOF community, supports members with resources to transition into civilian life, and raises awareness of members’ issues. One of these is suicide brought about by traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Studies show that suicide rates among SOF members are higher than those of civilians, and even 30 percent higher than those of other military members. There are many causes for this, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, a less talked about or acknowledged cause is TBI.
A study authorized by the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) looked at the suicide records of 117 SOF members from 2007 to 2015. The study also included 29 psychological autopsies of SOF members who died from 2012 to 2015. Of these 29 cases, researchers found that five involved SOF members who had experienced combat-related physical injury and another eight involved people whose next of kin reported that they suffered TBI.
This study, as well as others previously conducted, shows a correlation between TBI and suicide rates. This is because physical and nonphysical trauma can cause alterations in the brain’s molecular chemistry. Physical trauma includes concussive hits to the brain, including those that do not lead to unconsciousness. Nonphysical trauma includes chronic stress, poor sleep, emotional trauma, and toxin exposure. The alterations in brain chemistry these traumas cause is known as neuroinflammation.
Neuroinflammation can occur without any noticeable symptoms at first, but then manifest through cognitive, psychological, and emotional issues. People with neuroinflammation display symptoms like cognitive deficits, irritability, insomnia, depression, and anxiety. Up to 50 percent of head injuries can cause neuropsychiatric disorders.
SOF members, because of their hard training and harsh environments where they serve, are uniquely exposed to TBI and its resultant neuroinflammation and neuropsychiatric disorders. In fact, of the 29 suicide cases evaluated in the USSOCOM study, close to half were SOF members who had a diagnosed mental illness and about one-third had depression. About 50 percent had alcohol dependence.
Unfortunately, despite the evidence of neuroinflammation causing neuropsychiatric disorders, none of the 29 SOF members who died by suicide had received an assessment for alterations in their molecular brain chemistry. Hence, they did not get appropriate interventions to help them deal with neuroinflammation.
Today, while there have been improvements in the assessments that SOF members and other veterans undergo before transitioning to civilian life, interventions are usually focused on masking symptoms. For example, a veteran who has depression will receive a prescription for treatments to help with their depression.
SOAA believes that going to the root of the issue (addressing neuroinflammation caused by TBI) will lead to better outcomes and reduce suicide rates among SOF members. This is why it is promoting the work of the Warriors Angels Foundation (WAF).
WAF sponsors personalized assessments to pinpoint the underlying conditions of U.S. service members. It then ensures they receive individualized treatments to help them heal or better manage their conditions.
With regard to TBI, WAF promotes assessments that identify inflammation and detect the hormones and neurosteroids affected. It then sponsors treatments aimed at reducing inflammation and restoring affected hormones and neurosteroids to normal levels. This method focused on brain healing has led WAF to record an impressive 50 percent improvement in the conditions of 75 percent of the people it has worked with.
