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Community Interventions to Prevent Veteran Suicide The Role of Social Determinants: Proceedings of a Virtual Symposium (2022) / Chapter Skim
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7 Reports from Interactive Session Groups
Pages 59-66

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From page 59...
... provided a summary of several themes that emerged from the previous day's talks. These include the observation that "there are extensive data documenting that the social determinants of health in general are directly applicable to the specific challenge of reducing suicide risk in veterans." He commented one benefit of this is that as a result of this, "we can draw on that literature." The second theme is that in addition to approaching suicide prevention and management as an acute problem, adopting a broader perspective will make it possible to better "manage, reduce, and eliminate risk of suicide." Third, Strauman noted the central importance of "the intersection of multiple social forces and multiple identities," and the way that intersectionality might figure in suicide risk within a specific population.
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From page 60...
... These populations in cluded older veterans, LGBTQ+ veterans, veterans living in rural communi ties, veterans with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, Black veterans, and women veterans. OLDER VETERANS The discussion group that focused on older veterans chose to address the adverse social determinants of legal problems, familial and social problems, and lack of access to care and transportation, the reporter for the group said.
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From page 61...
... Uncovering the latter would involve attempts to partner with "the medical examiners' offices, vital statistics, and data from the state, the CDC, and the VA." VETERANS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES The reporter for the group focused on rural veterans said that they focused on logistics: "everything from firewood to broadband to access to trucks and transportation -- all as vehicles for suicide prevention." The reporter identified some themes identified by the group; these included coali­tion building and service connection. Coalition-building might involve simply one person from the VA who "is a trusted source in a local community" that an individual might feel comfortable turning to even if they have doubts about the VA or mental health care.
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From page 62...
... He also noted that there seem to be challenges around limitations as to what a person who works for the VA would be able to do "in terms of helping somebody else write a grant or manage funds." MENTAL HEALTH The group focusing on mental health chose as their adverse social determinants, "familial and social problems with mental health .
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From page 63...
... Organizations that might be brought into this include "local mental health authorities, the VA, local nonprofits, workforce training organizations and services, and the faith-based community," the reporter for the group stated. Ramchand noted that the chat conversation included mention of the Department of Labor's Transition Assistance Program and local chapters of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)
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From page 64...
... WOMEN VETERANS The reporter for this discussion group focused on women veterans stated that the topic they addressed was the importance social connection in the prevention of suicide among women veterans. The group created a "holistic transitional roadmap to civilian life" with the aim of providing "structure and navigational support to decrease the chance of personal crisis that could lead to suicide." The reporter emphasized the benefit of a holistic approach rather than focusing solely on career or another area of life, which research has shown leads to a feeling of unfulfillment.
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From page 65...
... get pulled by the vision instead of getting pulled back by the pain or uncertainty or lack of clarity." The reporter also pointed to resources, including a mental health app from the VA that includes resources for military sexual trauma and PTSD.
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Key Terms

  • women veterans
  • suicide risk
  • suicide prevention
  • adverse social
  • social determinant

  • veteran suicide
  • military sexual
  • community intervention
  • social determinants
  • reporter noted

  • sexual trauma
  • service providers
  • american veterans
  • specific population
  • law enforcement

  • holistic approach
  • military service
  • strauman noted
  • veterans stated
  • crisis intervention

  • focus population
  • black women
  • award named
  • military bases
  • program addressing

  • american recipient
  • grant writing
  • vetted service
  • personal health
  • key aspect


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