Talk to the Veterans Crisis Line now
U.S. flag
An official website of the United States government

VA Health Systems Research

Go to the VA ORD website
Go to the QUERI website

PPO 18-278 – HSR Study

 
PPO 18-278
Emergency Departments Treating Veteran for Suicide (ED-VeTS)
Angie Waliski, PhD MEd BA
Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System Eugene J. Towbin Healthcare Center, Little Rock, AR
No. Little Rock, AR
Funding Period: June 2019 - March 2021

Abstract

There are an estimated 20.8 million Veterans living in the U.S.1 with just over 9 million enrolled in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA).2 Although Veterans comprise only 8.5% of the U.S. population, they account for over 20% of suicide deaths.3,4 Of the estimated 20 Veterans who die by suicide each day, about six received VA care.3,4,5 Little is known about the 14 decedents not engaged in VHA care because there is no nationwide mechanism to identify, track, and compare healthcare practices. Preventing suicide among all Veterans will require VHA collaboration with community stakeholders to develop innovative approaches 6,7,8 for data sharing, referrals between providers, and a community-engaged approach to intervention development. Studies investigating healthcare utilization among those who commit suicide found that many contacted a healthcare provider in the year prior to death.9-15 Emergency departments (EDs) have been identified as a viable venue to intervene with individuals in suicidal crisis.11-15 Over 500,000 people annually are treated for suicide-related issues in EDs.16,17,18 Most Veterans who complete suicide are not enrolled in VHA care. Community EDs could be a viable point of contact for those at risk of suicide and who seek care outside VHA. While EDs may be a viable point of contact to identify Veterans at risk of suicide, our preliminary studies indicate the identification of military history or Veteran status is not common practice in Arkansas hospitals and there is a knowledge gap about referral and tracking procedures post ED discharge. Therefore, while there is significant potential in using community EDs as a platform for identifying and treating suicidal Veterans not seeking VHA care, further knowledge of the barriers and facilitators to using these EDs is needed. The purpose of our qualitative pilot study is to identify military service history and suicide risk among patients reporting suicidal ideations or attempts to community EDs, and to determine the acceptability and feasibility of referring Veterans to mental health (MH) care at a VHA facility or other community organization post discharge. Outcomes will be used to address the gaps in continuity of care between suicide risk identification and aftercare treatment post discharge from EDs. The study aligns with the HSR&D Mental/Behavioral Health priority domains with suicide prevention being a top focus, and the VHA Suicide Prevention: Getting to Zero Initiative, which recommends establishing community partnerships for the purpose of reaching all Veterans seeking care for suicide crisis, to include those most at risk during the first year post military service.20 Using principles of community engagement, we will collaborate with the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, Suicide Prevention Office (CAVHS-SPO); the Arkansas Suicide Prevention Council; the Arkansas Department of Health; and 10 community hospital EDs within the state of Arkansas. Specific Aims are to: SA1: Through qualitative interviews, document the barriers and facilitators to identifying military history, suicide risk, and post-discharge aftercare of patients admitted to community hospital emergency departments serving counties with the highest rates of suicide in the state of Arkansas. SA2: Identify acceptability and feasibility of standardized assessment, identification of military history, and referrals for continuity of care between community EDs and VHA facilities or other MH organizations. There is a gap in knowledge about Veteran suicide, adherence to provider recommendations post ED discharge, and treatment among Veterans not seeking care through VHA. This pilot study begins to bridge that gap in knowledge by establishing a platform to explore the policies and practices of EDs regarding suicide risk assessment, identification of military history, discharge planning for patients with identified suicide risk, and tracking of aftercare. Pilot results will inform an IIR application to improve continuity of care and tracking for Veterans seeking care for suicide from community ED’s.

External Links for this Project

NIH Reporter

Grant Number: I21HX002829-01
Link: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9721812



Dimensions for VA

Dimensions for VA is a web-based tool available to VA staff that enables detailed searches of published research and research projects.

Learn more about Dimensions for VA.

VA staff not currently on the VA network can access Dimensions by registering for an account using their VA email address.
    Search Dimensions for this project

PUBLICATIONS:


Journal Articles

  1. Waliski A, Matthieu MM, Allison MK, Wilson MP, Skaggs EM, Adkins DA, Owen RR. Emergency Departments Treating Veterans for Suicide: Ensuring Quality Care for Veterans Outside of Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Facilities. Journal of emergency nursing. 2023 Mar 1; 49(2):255-265. [view]


DRA: Mental, Cognitive and Behavioral Disorders
DRE: TRL - Applied/Translational
Keywords: Suicide, Utilization
MeSH Terms: None at this time.

Questions about the HSR website? Email the Web Team

Any health information on this website is strictly for informational purposes and is not intended as medical advice. It should not be used to diagnose or treat any condition.