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Military suicide has become a major challenge facing the mental health community in the past decade and tracing the causes hasn’t been easy. But a recent study from the University of Utah has shown that exposure to killing and death and not merely deployment and exposure to combat trauma is connected to suicide risk. The study grew out of a professor’s personal experience with the suicide of a friend and colleague, and this professor has also found that self-forgiveness protects against suicide attempts. Read more about the research in this month’s e-news exclusive. We welcome your comments at SWTeditor@gvpub.com. Visit our website at www.SocialWorkToday.com, join our Facebook page, and follow us on Twitter. — Marianne Mallon, editor Dealing With Death in Deployment A University of Utah study is the first to provide clear insight into contributing factors to suicide risk among military personnel and veterans who have deployed. The study, published in the journal Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, found that exposure to killing and death while deployed is connected to suicide risk. Previous studies that looked solely at the relationship between deployment and suicide risk without assessing for exposure to killing and death have shown inconsistent results. “Many people assume that deployment equals exposure to specific forms of combat trauma, but the two are not equivalent,” says Craig Bryan, psychology professor, director of the National Center for Veterans Studies at the University and lead author of the paper. “By looking specifically at exposure to death while deployed, it became clear that deployment itself does not increase risk for suicide because not all who are deployed are exposed to death and atrocity.” Part of the confusion from previous studies can be attributed to the variability in participant group sizes, where small differences in outcomes could appear very different. The University paper analyzed data from 22 studies, totaling 2.7 million participants from multiple eras and across nations, making it the most comprehensive evaluation ever conducted on this topic. By reviewing these studies in aggregate, the researchers found much more consistency across data than the individual findings suggested. Full Story »   Dealing With Death in Deployment Self-Care Solutions: Facing the Challenge of Asking for Help The Intersection of Recovery and Education Beyond Talk: Creative Arts Therapies Stroke Risk Lingers Long After Depression Lifts Police Challenged to Find Marijuana in Candies and Cookies Moral Injury As a War Wound Latest War Compounds Mental Trauma in Iraq Tech & Tools

Self-Care Solutions — Facing the Challenge of Asking for Help Taking care of yourself is almost as important as taking care of your clients. Read how social work administrators are helping their workers get needed attention. Read more » The Intersection of Recovery and Education Recovery high schools provide a supportive environment for students with substance use disorders to complete their education and avoid relapse. Read more » Beyond Talk — Creative Arts Therapies Words are sometimes inadequate to express an emotion, but maybe a painting or a poem can, and more clinicians are finding their therapeutic value. Read more » Stroke Risk Lingers Long After Depression Lifts NPR reports on a study that finds even two years after chronic depression lifts, stroke risk was 66% higher than it was for someone who had not experienced depression. Police Challenged to Find Marijuana in Candies and Cookies According to The New York Times, pot edibles smuggled across state lines are hard for law enforcement to detect because they have no telltale odor. Moral Injury As a War Wound USA Today reports military suffering from shame and guilt over what they did during war. The sensation is known as moral injury. Latest War Compounds Mental Trauma in Iraq According to The Washington Post, an estimated 40% to 50% of Iraq’s 33 million people have been affected by the trauma of the last few decades in a country where there are only 130 licensed psychiatrists. Social Work Today's CE program offers social workers the opportunity to earn CEs from the comfort of their homes or offices. Visit www.SocialWorkTodayCE.com today and join the thousands of professionals from across the country who already have taken advantage of this great program. Simply read an issue of the magazine and complete the online exam or the printed exam published in the magazine, and most issue exams will earn 2 CE credits! PLUS, you have the opportunity to earn CE credits from past issues, too! See what all the talk is about. Visit www.SocialWorkTodayCE.com today for more information! Have a product, service, or educational program you want to market to social work professionals, or an open position that you need to fill quickly? Social Work Today offers many flexible advertising programs designed to maximize your results. From print advertising to e-newsletter sponsorships, website advertising to direct mail opportunities, Social Work Today helps achieve your goals. E-mail our experienced account executives today for more information or call 800-278-4400! Coming up in our September/October issue is our Education Spotlight. E-mail a sales representative to be part of this unique advertising opportunity. AlliedHealthCareers.com is the premier online resource to recruit social work professionals. Post your open positions, view résumés, and showcase your facility's offerings all at AlliedHealthCareers.com!   Social workers care about their clients, but rarely do they have time to care about themselves. Show yourself a little appreciation with field-inspired gear from our Gift Shop. We've got the perfect item for every situation from busy days in the office to at-home visits. Check out our secure online shop today or call toll-free 877-809-1659 for easy and fast ordering. The nation's top employers and recruiters of social workers advertise in Social Work Today magazine and post their job openings on AlliedHealthCareers.com. Check out the most recent opportunities that have been submitted by employers across the country! Licensed Master's Level Clinicians The Bridge of Central Massachusetts, MA Clinical Social Worker Austen Riggs Center, Stockbridge, MA Social Worker/Clinical Counselor UNM Hospitals, Albuquerque, NM A Secure, Anonymous Résumé Bank Job Alerts Sent to Your E-mail Twitter 'Big Data' Could Provide Valuable Details About Transgender Individuals’ Health and Social Needs Transgender and gender nonconforming people are at high risk for diseases such as AIDS and are vulnerable to depression and other mental health issues, but may be reluctant to disclose their identities to researchers due to stigma. As a result, very little is known about their health and social needs. Learn more »