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The current study aim was to examine mental health characteristics in a sample of returning OEF/OIF/OND veterans initially enrolling in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care (N = 1,307), with a particular focus on a subgroup considered at risk for suicide (N = 445). Methods included examination of mental health screening measures and clinical interview data from a VA postdeployment clinic. Half of the sample met criteria for a mental health disorder, whereas 10% reported current suicidal or death ideation (e.g., thoughts of being better off dead or hurting oneself in some way) and 6% reported a history of suicide attempt. Sixty-eight percent of the at-risk subgroup accepted a referral for mental health treatment and a promising majority (78%) of those individuals attended their initial specialty mental health visit. At-risk veterans who accepted mental health referral were more likely to report current suicidal/death ideation; they were also more likely to have a diagnosis of a depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, or posttraumatic stress disorder. Factors associated with mental health appointment attendance included older age, being enrolled in college, and more years of military service. Results highlight the importance of early screening and referral to appropriate mental health follow-up. Implications for clinical practice and increasing engagement in VA mental health services among veterans at risk for suicide are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Objectives : Eliminating Veteran suicide is a top priority for the Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA). This study identified factors associated with suicidal ideation (SI) among a rarely studied subgroup of Veterans: those with cancer. Methods : Veterans (age M = 61.83) with cancer ( N = 175) referred for psychological evaluation completed measures of pain, sleep, depressive, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms. SI was defined by endorsing on paper-and-pencil questionnaire thoughts of killing oneself in the past 2 weeks or during clinical interview. Results : 25.1% reported SI. Compared to those without SI, Veterans with SI had higher ratings on measures of depression, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms. History of suicide attempt(s) was included in the model due to clinical significance. Logistic regression was performed with these variables as predictors of SI. The omnibus model was significant ( p < .001). However, only anhedonia and depressed mood had a statistically significant contribution to the model (β = 0.540, p = .001). Conclusions : Anhedonia and depressed mood predicted SI among Veterans with cancer above and beyond other risk factors. Clinical Implications : This study's findings highlight the importance of incorporating suicide risk screenings in oncology clinics across VA medical centers.

Suicide occurs at high rates among veterans, underscoring a need for improved identification of veterans at risk of engaging in suicidal behavior. Considering dimensions of psychopathology in the context of an ideation-to-action framework, the present study examined the utility of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form in distinguishing depressed, psychiatrically hospitalized male veterans ( N = 430) at varying levels of suicide risk. Analysis of variance and hierarchical logistic regression analyses indicated that internalizing scales differentiated depressed ideators ( n = 147) and depressed controls ( n = 143); and in line with expectations, both broad and narrowly focused externalizing scales provided incremental validity in distinguishing depressed attempters ( n = 140) from depressed ideators. Interactions between Suicidal/Death Ideation and externalizing scale scores were found to differentiate only depressed ideators from depressed controls. Clinical implications in the areas of suicide risk assessment and therapeutic interventions with suicidal veterans are discussed.

Background: The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) health-care system utilizes a multilevel suicide prevention intervention that features the use of standardized safety plans with veterans considered to be at high risk for suicide., Aims: Little is known about clinician perceptions on the value of safety planning with veterans at high risk for suicide., Method: Audio-recorded interviews with 29 VHA behavioral health treatment providers in a southeastern city were transcribed and analyzed using qualitative methodology., Results: Clinical providers consider safety planning feasible, acceptable, and valuable to veterans at high risk for suicide owing to the collaborative and interactive nature of the intervention. Providers identified the types of veterans who easily engaged in safety planning and those who may experience more difficulty with the process., Conclusion: Additional research with VHA providers in other locations and with veteran consumers is needed.