San Francisco VA Mental Health Summit 2016 Presentation by Megan McCarthy

MENTAL HEALTH SUMMIT 2016
Megan McCarthy, Ph.D.
Deputy Director, Office of Suicide Prevention
Veterans Health Administration,
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
August 12, 2016

VA Suicide Prevention Overview
• Veterans
• Service members
• Family members
• Friends

Suicide Prevention Coordinators

2016 VA Suicide Data Report (mentalhealth.va.gov)

Veteran Suicides 2010 vs. 2014

Veteran Suicide Rates, 2001-2014

Civilian Suicide Rates, 2001-2014

Veteran Suicide Statistics for 2014

VHA users with MH/SUD disorder
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
PercentageofVHAUsers
With MH/SUD dx With Substance Use Disorder
With BPD With Depression
With Other Anxiety With PTSD
With Schizophrenia
% of VHA users with Mental Health or Substance Use Disorder, 2001-2014

Risk for suicide among VHA Users vs. General Population
0.00
0.50
1.00
1.50
2.00
2.50
3.00
CY01CY02CY03CY04CY05CY06CY07CY08CY09CY10CY11CY12CY13CY14
StandardizedMortalityRatio
Males Females
Standardized Mortality Ratio (SMR) for male and female VHA users
compared to U.S. General Population
When compared with the U.S. general population, risk for suicide among
users of VHA services has decreased since 2001 for both males and females.

0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Male Female
Risk for suicide among VHA Users vs. non-VHA Veterans
Standardized Mortality Ratio (SMR) for male and female VHA users
compared to non-VHA using Veterans
The difference in suicide risk between Veterans with and without the use of
VHA services has diminished since 2001.

Suicide Prevention Outreach in the Community

Local Resources and Outreach Efforts
• SFVAHCS Suicide
Prevention Team
– Outreach
– Partnerships,
education

I’m Good Public Service Announcement

SHARED EXPERIENCES AND SUPPORT FOR VETERANS

Make the Connection is about changing
the conversation and reducing the stigma
Veterans and the general public associate
with mental health. The campaign
promotes the message that resources are
available, treatment works, and recovery is
possible.
Listen
More than 600 videos of real stories from
Veterans about experiencing mental health
challenges and how they found support
Learn
Information about life events, signs and
symptoms, and conditions
Locate
Find VA, SAMHSA, and National Resource
Directory resources near you
Listen
Learn
Locate
Make the Connection

Interactive Filter
• Filter customizes
video results in real
time, providing users
with stories of
Veterans with similar
experiences
• Choose from several
filter identifiers,
including a list of
signs and symptoms
and conditions
• Users view an
expansive library of
more than 600 videos
Video Gallery

Interactive Filter
• Filter customizes
video results in real
time, providing users
with stories of
Veterans with similar
experiences.
• Choose from several
filter identifiers,
including a list of
signs and symptoms
and conditions.
• Users view an
expansive library of
more than 600
videos.
Video Gallery

Spreading the Word About Gun Safety
Brochure Fact Sheet
Video
A suite of online and print materials
is being created for supporters to
share with their networks.
Online toolkit includes:
• Video
• Social media content
• Fact sheet
• Brochure
Materials are available for download at:
VeteransCrisisLine.net/SpreadTheWord

Free Gunlocks at VA Medical Centers
Suicide Prevention
Coordinators at VA Medical
Centers can provide gun
locks to secure firearms in
the home.
No questions asked.

• Choose to enter
ZIP code or state
and distance
limitations.
• Choose the VA or
SAMHSA
resources
desired.
• Page displays
and lists flagged
resources and
provides contact
information and
distance from the
user’s home.
Resource Locator

• Provides easy-to-use print and
digital materials to promote the
effort to encourage Veterans to
pursue mental health support.
• Downloadable social media
cover photos, web banners and
ads, bi-folds, outreach cards, an
e-book, and information cards
are available.
• You can add your voice to the
conversation on social media by
sharing or commenting on one
of several social media posts.
Spread the Word

• Mental Health – www.mentalhealth.va.gov – VHA provides specialty inpatient and outpatient mental
health services at its medical centers and community-based outpatient clinics. All mental health care
provided by VHA supports recovery, striving to enable people with mental health problems to live a
meaningful life in their community and achieve their full potential.
• Vet Centers – www.vetcenter.va.gov – Vet Centers are VA community-based centers that provide a
range of counseling, outreach, and referral services.
• Coaching Into Care – http://www.mirecc.va.gov/coaching/services.asp or call 888-823-7458 to reach
a coach. A free, confidential “coaching” service provided by VA that helps Veterans’ family members
and friends to recognize when a Veteran needs support and to connect them with local resources.
• Community Provider Toolkit – http://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/communityproviders/miniclinics.asp –
VA’s Community Provider Toolkit offers Mini-Clinics, an online resource that enables clinicians to
easily access information and tools for treating Veteran patients with various mental health conditions.
These online “clinics” contain tools for assessing patients for these conditions and training clinicians to
treat those patients, as well as educational handouts.
• PTSD – www.ptsd.va.gov – Each VA Medical Center has specialists who provide treatment for
Veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder. The PTSD Coach application allows phone users to
manage their symptoms, links them with local sources of support, and provides information on PTSD.
www.ptsd.va.gov/public/pages/PTSDCoach.asp.
VA Resources

Give an Hour:
The Campaign to Change Direction
www.changedirection.org
www.giveanhour.org

Give an Hour’s Change Direction Campaign
• As a society, we don't openly acknowledge, discuss, or address our
mental well-being – nor do we value our mental health the way we do
our physical health
• How can we expect those who serve to openly discuss their mental
health concerns?
• How can we expect military family members to openly seek mental
health care for themselves and those they love?

The Campaign to Change
Direction is a collection of
concerned citizens, nonprofit
leaders, and leaders from the
private sector who have come
together to change the culture in
America about mental health,
mental illness, and wellness.
Give an Hour’s Change Direction Campaign

So how do we change our culture?
Create a common language
0

The Five Signs of Emotional Suffering

What You Can Do
• Educate yourself and support staff
about the various resources
• Download, print, and distribute
materials to Veterans and
stakeholders
• Download and play public service
announcements and other videos on
monitors in your facility’s waiting
areas
• Share outreach materials such as
newsletter articles and social media
content with your networks

San Francisco VA Mental Health Summit 2016 Presentation by Megan McCarthy

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San Francisco VA Mental Health Summit 2016 Presentation by Megan McCarthy