Recognizing Mental Health Awareness Month: Four Numbers That Can Save Countless Lives

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Recognizing Mental Health Awareness Month: Four Numbers That Can Save Countless Lives

Posted on 05.22.23

During Mental Health Awareness Month, we are drawing on our experience working with Veterans and VA to share helpful information and resources regarding mental health.

988 + 1: Four Numbers That Can Save Countless Lives

On average, 17 Veterans commit suicide each day. The unique challenges of being a Veteran make this community especially vulnerable to suicidal behaviors. In fact, Veteran suicide rates are 1.5 times higher than non-Veterans. Consequentially, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has partnered with organizations and employed initiatives that address the needs of this vulnerable population, one of which is the 988 Suicide and Crisis Hotline.

The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provides 24/7 confidential support for individuals in a suicidal crisis or emotional distress. While all individuals can utilize 988, extension one within the 988 system is explicitly used for Veterans, service members and their loved ones. VA partnered with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline to implement the 988 expansion and ensure all Veterans have access to life-saving mental health care. Veterans and their loved ones can access the Crisis Line by dialing 988 and pressing one.

Aptive HTG’s Clay Hunt Project conducts a yearly independent evaluation to assess the efficacy and effectiveness of VA’s mental health and suicide prevention programs. The evaluation has concluded that VA is at the forefront of delivering expedient, equitable and effective mental health care and through collaborative initiatives such as the 988 Suicide and Crisis Hotline, VA will continue to provide care for those who have served.

988 + 1 may only be four numbers, but it can save countless lives.

Experience

OUR WORK

Health Care for American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans

Health Care for American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for a Veterans Health Administration (VHA) program office to improve health care and access for American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans. Aptive helped operationalize the VA’s new Office of Tribal Health, which equips VHA with senior executive leadership, guidance, strategic direction and policy to support health care, access, and Fourth Mission activities for American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans. Aptive completed an extensive functional review with over 45 stakeholders and subject matter experts that informed the Office of Tribal Health’s mission, vision, values and scope. We drafted position descriptions, managed recruiting efforts, onboarded employees and developed the Office of Tribal Health charter identifying purpose, strategy and stakeholders. The work also includes developing and implementing communications and change management plans.

 

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Evaluation of Nationwide Mental Health Care Delivery

Evaluation of Nationwide Mental Health Care Delivery

Identifying what works and what doesn’t could help the federal government make the wisest investments in suicide prevention initiatives. For the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act, we facilitate a panel review of best practices for suicide prevention programs. Our team of mental health and other professionals analyze more than nine national datasets, including clinical records, to develop the annual report to Congress that evaluates mental health, suicide prevention and substance use program outcomes, cost effectiveness and patient satisfaction and summarizes best practices in mental health care delivery, including a focus on virtual mental health services. We are also developing an annual report to Congress on VA’s compliance with opioid prescription practice guidelines.

 

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President’s Roadmap to Empower Veterans and End a National Tragedy of Suicide (PREVENTS)

President’s Roadmap to Empower Veterans and End a National Tragedy of Suicide (PREVENTS)

We provide project management, reporting, implementation and evaluation of VA suicide prevention programs in support of PREVENTS and an ongoing Executive Order. In April 2021, PREVENTS transitioned to the Office under the direction of the VA National Director of Suicide Prevention.

 

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Mental Health and Special Populations

For too many individuals suffering from mental health disorders, accessing treatment is difficult or cost-prohibitive, exacerbated by deficiencies in policymaking and program implementation.

Aptive’s team of behavioral health scientists, policy leaders and program implementation experts understand the necessity of engaging entities across interdisciplinary sectors to address mental health issues and reduce suicide rates.

Our experts design, build and implement custom prevention strategies, research studies, frameworks and approaches to meet organizational needs, specifically focusing on supporting underserved populations.

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