March 2021
QUERI Highlights Implementation and Evaluation Science Mental Health and Suicide PreventionNearly one in five U.S. adults live with a mental illness (51.5 million Americans in 2019),1 and more than 1.7 million Veterans received treatment in VA’s mental health specialty program in FY2018. Mental health services for Veterans are available not only in VA's specialty clinics, but also in primary care clinics, nursing homes, and residential care facilities. Emergency mental healthcare also is available 24/7 at VA medical centers. Despite the increased efforts in implementing comprehensive Suicide Prevention Program initiatives, such as the Veterans Crisis Line, and hiring Suicide Prevention Coordinators at every VA hospital, Veteran suicide rates remain high. To help VA continue to enhance care for all Veterans with mental illness and to optimize suicide prevention efforts, QUERI centers are focusing on the following areas. Behavioral Health QUERI will work to advance care and prevent suicides for Veterans with complex behavioral health conditions, such as bipolar disorder.
Evaluation of Implementing FLOW in VISN 19 will evaluate the implementation of the FLOW program in VISN 19, which will assist VA facilities with identifying and transitioning appropriate mental health patients to primary care.
Implementation Evaluation of a National Sponsorship Program for Transitioning Service Members will evaluate the impact of a national sponsorship program for transitioning service members on Veteran outcomes, including stressors, social support, psychological distress, services use, and suicidal ideation.
Implementing Caring Contacts for Suicide Prevention in Non-Mental Health Settings will implement and evaluate Caring Contacts (sending patients at risk of suicide brief expressions of care over one year) in emergency department and urgent care settings to reach Veterans who may not engage in mental health services.
Randomized Evaluation of Caring Letters will evaluate the Caring Letters program for Veterans who call the Veterans Crisis Line (VCL), which is vital because VCL callers have suicide rates several times higher than the general Veteran population.
Suicide Risk Identification QUERI Evaluation will assess the effectiveness of computerized suicide risk screening and evaluation in VA ambulatory care settings.
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