Veteran Suicide Risk Reduction Through Targeted Dissemination Of An Easy To Use Risk Screening Instrument

On August 3, 2016, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Suicide Prevention published the most comprehensive analysis of Veteran suicide in the nation’s history. The Office of Suicide Prevention examined more than 55 million Veteran healthcare records from 1979 to 2014 from all 50 states and four territories (Office of Suicide Prevention, 2016). The study results found that although Veterans account for only 8.5% of the U.S. adult population, they are responsible for 18.5% of all U.S. suicides (Office of Suicide Prevention, 2016). After adjusting for differences in age and gender, the risk for suicide was 21% higher in the Veteran population than their civilian peers (Office of Suicide Prevention, 2016). Substantial decreases in suicide rates have been achieved within the patient populations of veteran, military, and civilian healthcare organizations following targeted dissemination of an easy to use suicide risk screening instrument. An evidence-based tool currently exists which is effective not only as a predictor of suicide risk but also is preventative when appropriately disseminated. A community health nursing initiative can reduce suicide rates for those Veterans who do not have access to mental health services through dissemination of this tool in a targeted fashion in partnership with a Veterans service organization