Back to Search
Start Over
Mental health utilization among veterans at risk for suicide: Data from a post-deployment clinic.
- Source :
-
Psychological services [Psychol Serv] 2020 May; Vol. 17 (2), pp. 217-226. Date of Electronic Publication: 2018 Oct 08. - Publication Year :
- 2020
-
Abstract
- 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).
- Subjects :
- Adult
Appointments and Schedules
Female
Humans
Male
Mental Disorders therapy
Middle Aged
Referral and Consultation statistics & numerical data
Risk
United States epidemiology
United States Department of Veterans Affairs
Mental Disorders epidemiology
Mental Health Services statistics & numerical data
Patient Acceptance of Health Care statistics & numerical data
Suicidal Ideation
Suicide, Attempted statistics & numerical data
Veterans statistics & numerical data
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1939-148X
- Volume :
- 17
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Psychological services
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 30299151
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1037/ser0000311