MENTAL HEALTH SUMMIT 2016

Megan McCarthy, Ph.D.Deputy Director, Office of Suicide Prevention Veterans Health Administration,U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

August 12, 2016

VA Suicide Prevention Overview

• Veterans

• Service members

• Family members

• Friends

Suicide Prevention Coordinators

2016 VA Suicide Data Report (mentalhealth.va.gov)

Veteran Suicides 2010 vs. 2014

Veteran Suicide Rates, 2001-2014

Civilian Suicide Rates, 2001-2014

Veteran Suicide Statistics for 2014

VHA users with MH/SUD disorder

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5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

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f V

HA

Use

rs

With MH/SUD dx With Substance Use Disorder

With BPD With Depression

With Other Anxiety With PTSD

With Schizophrenia

% of VHA users with Mental Health or Substance Use Disorder, 2001-2014

Risk for suicide among VHA Users vs. General Population

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0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

2.50

3.00

CY01CY02CY03CY04CY05CY06CY07CY08CY09CY10CY11CY12CY13CY14

Stan

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Males Females

Standardized Mortality Ratio (SMR) for male and female VHA userscompared to U.S. General Population

When compared with the U.S. general population, risk for suicide among users of VHA services has decreased since 2001 for both males and females.

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

Male Female

Risk for suicide among VHA Users vs. non-VHA Veterans

Standardized Mortality Ratio (SMR) for male and female VHA userscompared to non-VHA using Veterans

The difference in suicide risk between Veterans with and without the use of VHA services has diminished since 2001.

Suicide Prevention Outreach in the Community

Local Resources and Outreach Efforts

• SFVAHCS Suicide Prevention Team– Outreach– Partnerships,

education

I’m Good Public Service Announcement

SHARED EXPERIENCES AND SUPPORT FOR VETERANS

Make the Connection is about changing the conversation and reducing the stigma Veterans and the general public associate with mental health. The campaign promotes the message that resources are available, treatment works, and recovery is possible.

ListenMore than 600 videos of real stories from Veterans about experiencing mental health challenges and how they found support

LearnInformation about life events, signs and symptoms, and conditions

LocateFind VA, SAMHSA, and National Resource Directory resources near you

Listen

Learn

Locate

Make the Connection

Interactive Filter

• Filter customizes

video results in real

time, providing users

with stories of

Veterans with similar

experiences

• Choose from several

filter identifiers,

including a list of

signs and symptoms

and conditions

• Users view an

expansive library of

more than 600 videos

Video Gallery

Interactive Filter

• Filter customizes

video results in real

time, providing users

with stories of

Veterans with similar

experiences.

• Choose from several

filter identifiers,

including a list of

signs and symptoms

and conditions.

• Users view an

expansive library of

more than 600

videos.

Video Gallery

Spreading the Word About Gun Safety

Brochure Fact Sheet

Video

A suite of online and print materials

is being created for supporters to

share with their networks.

Online toolkit includes:

• Video

• Social media content

• Fact sheet

• Brochure

Materials are available for download at:

VeteransCrisisLine.net/SpreadTheWord

Free Gunlocks at VA Medical Centers

Suicide Prevention

Coordinators at VA Medical

Centers can provide gun

locks to secure firearms in

the home.

No questions asked.

Gun Safety Video

• Choose to enter

ZIP code or state

and distance

limitations.

• Choose the VA or

SAMHSA

resources

desired.

• Page displays

and lists flagged

resources and

provides contact

information and

distance from the

user’s home.

Resource Locator

• Provides easy-to-use print and

digital materials to promote the

effort to encourage Veterans to

pursue mental health support.

• Downloadable social media

cover photos, web banners and

ads, bi-folds, outreach cards, an

e-book, and information cards

are available.

• You can add your voice to the

conversation on social media by

sharing or commenting on one

of several social media posts.

Spread the Word

• Mental Health – www.mentalhealth.va.gov – VHA provides specialty inpatient and outpatient mental

health services at its medical centers and community-based outpatient clinics. All mental health care

provided by VHA supports recovery, striving to enable people with mental health problems to live a

meaningful life in their community and achieve their full potential.

• Vet Centers – www.vetcenter.va.gov – Vet Centers are VA community-based centers that provide a

range of counseling, outreach, and referral services.

• Coaching Into Care – http://www.mirecc.va.gov/coaching/services.asp or call 888-823-7458 to reach

a coach. A free, confidential “coaching” service provided by VA that helps Veterans’ family members

and friends to recognize when a Veteran needs support and to connect them with local resources.

• Community Provider Toolkit – http://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/communityproviders/miniclinics.asp –

VA’s Community Provider Toolkit offers Mini-Clinics, an online resource that enables clinicians to

easily access information and tools for treating Veteran patients with various mental health conditions.

These online “clinics” contain tools for assessing patients for these conditions and training clinicians to

treat those patients, as well as educational handouts.

• PTSD – www.ptsd.va.gov – Each VA Medical Center has specialists who provide treatment for

Veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder. The PTSD Coach application allows phone users to

manage their symptoms, links them with local sources of support, and provides information on PTSD.

www.ptsd.va.gov/public/pages/PTSDCoach.asp.

VA Resources

Give an Hour:The Campaign to Change Direction

www.changedirection.org

www.giveanhour.org

Give an Hour’s Change Direction Campaign

• As a society, we don't openly acknowledge, discuss, or address our

mental well-being – nor do we value our mental health the way we do

our physical health

• How can we expect those who serve to openly discuss their mental

health concerns?

• How can we expect military family members to openly seek mental

health care for themselves and those they love?

The Campaign to Change

Direction is a collection of

concerned citizens, nonprofit

leaders, and leaders from the

private sector who have come

together to change the culture in

America about mental health,

mental illness, and wellness.

Give an Hour’s Change Direction Campaign

So how do we change our culture?

Create a common language

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The Five Signs of Emotional Suffering

What You Can Do

• Educate yourself and support staff

about the various resources

• Download, print, and distribute

materials to Veterans and

stakeholders

• Download and play public service

announcements and other videos on

monitors in your facility’s waiting

areas

• Share outreach materials such as

newsletter articles and social media

content with your networks