VAOIG-21-00236-44.pdf

..."Mental Health: Suicide Prevention
Suicide prevention remains a top priority for VHA. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death,
with over 47,000 lives lost across the United States in 2019.
63 The suicide rate for veterans
was 1.5 times greater than for nonveteran adults and estimated to represent approximately
13.8 percent of all suicide deaths in the United States during 2018.
64 However, suicide rates
among veterans who recently used VHA services decreased by 2.4 percent between 2017 and
2018.65
VHA requires VISN leaders to appoint mental health staff to serve as a member of its primary
governing body, participate on each state’s suicide prevention council or workgroup, and
coordinate activities with state and local mental health systems and community providers.66
The OIG reviewed relevant documents and interviewed managers to determine whether VISN
staff complied with various suicide prevention requirements:
· Designation of a mental health professional to serve on the VISN’s primary
governing body and each state’s suicide prevention council or workgroup
· Designation of a mental health liaison to coordinate activities with state, county,
and local mental health systems and community providers
Mental Health Findings and Recommendations
Generally, the VISN achieved the requirements listed above. The OIG made no
recommendations."...