Death by suicide is preventable. Suicide in the U. S. military veteran population is a national epidemic with a wide-ranging impact on individuals, families, and society. The purpose of this project is to ignite a professional dialog on suicide, a serious mental health issue – absent in the profession’s research and literature. Occupational therapy’s emphasis on holistically viewing a client’s intrinsic factors, social and cultural environment, and facilitation of meaningful participation in occupation, naturally positions the profession to address the psychosocial risk factors associated with veteran suicide. The author explores the intersection of the profession’s theoretical foundation, scope of practice, and suicide theory, demonstrating a distinct professional role in suicide prevention. The author presents a case for the inclusion of suicide training as a professional competency, supported by evidence and legislation. Appraising evidence-based interventions from other disciplines the author translates evidence to the scope of practice. Articulating the profession’s value in mitigating veteran suicide risk through the utilization of occupation-based interventions for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), combat stress, and depression – adds to the knowledge base of the profession. The author discusses the advantages of peer support and client-centered interventions for illness self-management with veterans. Due to the paucity of the topic of suicide in the professional literature, professional implications include education, dissemination, and future research.
