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VISN 2 Health Care Services: Behavioral VA Health Care News
- Kerry L. Knox, M.S., Ph.D., VISN2 Center of Excellence for Suicide Prevention Director, was awarded funding by the VA Mental Health Quality Enhancement Research Initiative (QUERI) to support a locally initiated project that will serve to enhance a current Center of Excellence study being conducted specifically to gain knowledge about the implementation of the Suicide Assessment and Follow-up Engagement: Veteran Emergency Treatment Project (SAFE VET) Program in five VA emergency departments. Dr. Knox is the Project Director for SAFE VET, a clinical demonstration project to augment emergency mental health service delivery. SAFE VET is designed to reduce deaths from suicide and to mitigate suicidal thoughts and behaviors in Veterans through a Veteran-focused, clinical safety plan intervention conducted in ED/Mental Health Urgent Care settings and includes an intensive outreach protocol following discharge.
Bath VAMC and VA Western NYHS have signed their first service agreement to allow Buffalo BH providers to provide services via Telemental Health to patients at Bath and its CBOC’s.
- September 30, the Syracuse VAMC Suicide Prevention Coordinator, Health Care for Homeless Veterans Team Lead and OEF/OIF/OND Program Manager presented at a “Safety Stand Down” focusing on suicide prevention. Approximately 200 active duty soldiers from the Syracuse Recruiting Battalion were in attendance for educational films, discussions and programming on suicide prevention, awareness, and ways to assist. The Syracuse team spoke for 30-40 minutes and met with soldiers afterwards to answer specific questions. The response was very positive. Each soldier received a wallet card with the national hotline number on it. The team was given a coin from the Syracuse Recruiting Battalion for Excellence as a thank you for their participation.
- August 21-25, Several VISN2 Center of Excellence for Suicide Prevention research investigators and support staff attended the VA National Mental Health Conference in Baltimore, MD. A number of presentations were made on Center initiated suicide research, training initiatives and demonstration projects. Staff also participated in a number of mental health and education program area meetings and staffed information and resource tables.
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