Introduction/Background: Suicidality among veterans is a serious issue that impacts veterans, their families, friends, and communities. The use of linked data to examine suicidality among veterans remains an emerging area. This review examines the application of data linkage to questions on suicidality among veterans from within the Five Eyes alliance.
Methods: This scoping review was developed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework. PubMed, Scopus, Embase, APA PsycInfo, and PTSDPubs were searched in January 2024 using search terms related to ‘military,’ ‘suicidality,’ and ‘data linkage.’ Grey literature was also searched.
Results: 58 studies met eligibility criteria. Most (72.4%) were conducted in the U.S., followed by Canada (13.8%) and Australia (8.6%). Cohort studies (82.8%) predominated, with follow-ups of 1–42 years. Veteran cohorts were mostly male (75–100%) and Caucasian (63–98%). Data linkage involved two to ten datasets, with VA’s Corporate Data Warehouse the most used. Most studies examined suicide deaths (81%), while 31% assessed ideation, self-harm, or attempts.
Discussion: Most linked data studies focused on suicide mortality, emphasizing national death indexes, with non-fatal suicidality remaining a key gap. The literature was inconsistent in describing key elements of data linkage methods used. Data linkage remains underutilized in examining longitudinal risk factors, healthcare trajectories, service transitions, and multi-systemic influences on veteran suicidality. Addressing these gaps requires integrating broader suicidality measures, improving linkage methods, and ensuring ethical governance. Standardizing data practices and enhancing transparency will strengthen research reliability and policy relevance, ultimately optimizing data-driven suicide prevention strategies for veterans.