VA's top clinical priority is preventing suicide among all Veterans
As a national leader in suicide prevention and the nation’s largest integrated health care system, the Veterans Health Administration has unparalleled experience in preventing Veteran suicide. To serve all Veterans, VA must build effective networks of support, communication, and care across the communities in which Veterans live and work every day.
With resources and services working in a coordinated manner, we as a nation can prevent these tragic deaths by suicide. To accomplish this, VA has developed the National Strategy for Preventing Veteran Suicide to provide a framework for identifying priorities, organizing efforts, and contributing to a national focus on Veteran suicide prevention over the next several years.
Mission
We dedicate ourselves to the prevention of Veteran suicide through accessible and compassionate mental health services, creating a supportive network that recognizes and addresses the unique challenges faced by Veterans.
Focus
To expand our treatment and prevention efforts to address issues that arise before a suicide crisis, while also expanding our crisis intervention services.
Growth
In collaboration with stakeholders and communties nationwide, VA is focused on reducing the U.S suicide rate by 20% by 2025.
Accelerating innovative solutions to reduce Veteran suicides
About Mission Daybreak
Reducing Veteran suicides is a top clinical priority for VA. That’s why VA launched the Mission Daybreak grand challenge in 2022, which awarded $20 million to suicide prevention solutions that can meet the diverse needs of Veterans. Building off the work that began with the grand challenge, the mission brings Veterans, researchers, technologists, advocates, healthcare providers, health innovators, and service members together to collaborate and advance suicide prevention solutions.
Featured by Suicide Prevention
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Suicide Assessment Follow-up Evaluation - Watch (SAFE-Watch)
SAFE-Watch provides a CPRS popup notification and real-time VistA report to identify patients that have a positive Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) within the last 36 hours.
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VA Firearms Safe Handling Virtual Reality (VR) Experience
A virtual and immersive introduction to firearms, ammunition, and proper safety techniques for VA Healthcare providers, designed to increase familiarity with firearms.
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Mission Daybreak: Teams and their solutions are in the spotlight at conferences and events
Published on Febuary 12, 2024
Teams continue to develop their solutions to meet both Veterans and clinicians where they are. Over the last year, teams have also had opportunities to participate in a range of conferences and events, meeting with Veterans, Veteran families and caregivers, innovators, and funders.
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Biden-Harris Administration Releases National Strategy for Suicide Prevention and First-Ever Federal Action Plan
Published on April 24, 2024
The Biden Harris Administration, through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released the 2024 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention (National Strategy) and accompanying Federal Action Plan.
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Nearly 50,000 veterans used free emergency suicide prevention in first year of program, VA says
Published on January 17, 2024 by Kathryn Watson, Sara Cook
Nearly 50,000 veterans received free emergency suicide prevention care in 2023, the first year of the program.
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Insights from the National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report
Published on November 16, 2023 by Matthew Miller, Executive Director, VA Suicide Prevention
VA released its National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report, providing a comprehensive analysis of Veteran suicides through the year 2021. The report shows that 6,392 Veterans lost their lives to suicide in 2021—an increase of 114 over 2020—emphasizing the urgent need for continued efforts in suicide prevention.
"Together, we can and will save Veterans' lives, and we will not stop in our efforts to work to end suicide among Veterans. "
-David Carroll, Ph.D., Executive Director