by
Joseph Geraci, PhD
Seminar date: 12/6/2023
Description: The Veteran Sponsorship Initiative (VSI) is an evidence-based public-private partnerships between the VA, DoD, national nonprofits (like ETS Sponsorship), and community-based organizations with the aim of decreasing Veteran suicide risk by reducing psychological pain and increasing connectedness through matching Servicemembers with VA-certified, volunteer, community-based sponsors to work with them on social determinants of health (e.g., employment, housing, social connection). Recently, VSI was augmented with a precision medicine approach that screens Servicemembers for suicide risk with the DoD STARRS practical risk calculator for suicide behavior (Kearns et al., 2023) with subsequent assignment to preventive, stepped-care interventions consisting of a VA certified and volunteer sponsor (1-on-1), connection to VA healthcare (e.g., primary care, polytrauma, mental health), VA case management/psychotherapy and other specialty VA care, based on risk-level. Intended Audience: VA and non-VA professionals and stakeholders interested in learning about innovative approaches to reduce suicide risk for active-duty Servicemembers as they transition out of the military into the “deadly gap”.
DOWNLOAD: PDF handout | Audio only (mp3) | transcript not yet available
