2. Discuss updates to VA’s public health approach to suicide prevention, defining the critical role both community-based prevention and clinical intervention strategies (e.g. emergent suicide care, grants, Governor’s/Mayor’s Challenge).
3. Identify methods to normalize “reaching out” through connection across many methods (e.g., starting a conversation, discussing secure storage of firearms, identifying resources, care engagement, 24/7/365 support through the Veterans Crisis Line).
4. Discuss the power of loved ones in Veterans’ lives, including how they can support increasing community and connection, limiting the impact of risk factors and increasing the impact of protective factors.
o VA Suicide Prevention is built upon 3 core tenets: suicide is preventable, suicide prevention requires a public health approach, and everyone plays a role. VA's public health strategy combines community efforts to implement tailored, local prevention plans with evidence-based clinical interventions. Our approach focuses on both what can be done now, in the short term, and over the long term, to save Veterans’ lives. This presentation provides an overview of the data driving VA’s efforts, our operationalization of strategy, and the challenges and opportunities we face together with you in deploying a public health approach. This presentation will also provide information regarding the critical pathways forward: 1) continue full force implementation of what we know from the research to save lives and 2) encourage ongoing innovation/research paired with strong program evaluation to assess for new, effective interventions.