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Improving Mental Health Care for Veterans

Posted on 04.01.25

Assessing the feasibility and advisability of reorganizing and realigning VA mental health offices

One of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ top priorities is reducing Veteran suicide by strengthening mental health services. The Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act required VA to ensure each VA Medical Center had at least one suicide prevention coordinator. The legislation also directed VA to evaluate whether it was feasible and advisable to realign these coordinators under a centralized office and establish a dedicated suicide prevention coordinator program office.

THE APTIVE ADVANTAGE

Extensive experience in operational performance improvement
Expertise in research, evaluation and mental health policy analysis
Familiarity with VA programs and Veteran health priorities

RESULTS AT A GLANCE

Delivered a congressional report that informed briefings for the House and Senate Committees on Veterans’ Affairs
Developed a real-time dashboard to manage communications deliverables
Supported targeted operational messaging and inter-agency coordination on suicide prevention efforts

Challenge

Meeting legislative deadlines for a complex national mental health care study

VA was required to complete a feasibility and advisability study within one year of the Hannon Act’s enactment and submit a congressional report 90 days after completion. The study had to evaluate the feasibility of creating a suicide prevention coordinator program office, compare current staffing ratios and describe coordinator duties across VA. The study also needed to assess legal authority, operational impacts and implications for clinical outcomes based on the Quadruple Aim framework.

Given the scope and urgency, VA required an experienced partner to support the evaluation, gather data across the health system and deliver a report that met congressional standards.

Solutions

Aptive conducted the study and produced the report to Congress. The team brought together experts in mental health research, legislative analysis and process optimization. The approach included rigorous research methods, structured interviews, data analysis and effective coordination with VA leadership and field offices.

The Aptive team:

Conducted a literature review of relevant laws, policies and federal reports
Completed 163 interviews across 21 VA service sites, including VAMC leadership, suicide prevention coordinators, VA Central Office staff, VISN representatives and Veteran stakeholders
Analyzed findings using qualitative and quantitative methods, including a cost-benefit assessment of centralized versus decentralized models
Applied project management tools and implemented a risk mitigation plan to maintain timeline integrity under a compressed schedule
Coordinated subcontractors and facilitated collaboration through centralized tracking systems

Nurse or doctor give man support during recovery or loss. Caregiver holding hand of her sad senior patient and showing kindness while doing a checkup at a retirement, old age home or hospital

Results

Informing congressional oversight and supporting national communications on Veteran suicide prevention

Aptive produced a detailed study report that supported congressional briefings on suicide prevention efforts at VA. The findings informed decisions on organizational structure, resource alignment and coordinator oversight.

VA also tasked Aptive with developing an operational messaging strategy to fulfill Hannon Act requirements. The team created a dashboard to track and manage communication products including fact sheets, posters and Veteran-facing resources.

This comprehensive support helped VA meet legislative requirements, evaluate potential reforms and communicate its suicide prevention efforts with transparency and precision.