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Mitigating Suicide Risk During the Military-to-Civilian Transition: The VA Veteran Sponsorship Initiative
Joseph C Geraci1,2,3,4, David E Goodrich1,5,6, Erin P Finley2,7
1VA Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 2 Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, New York, NY 10468, USA.
Summary
The VA Veteran Sponsorship Initiative (VSI) significantly increased VA primary care use and reduced suicide attempts in transitioning servicemembers. This public-private partnership supports veterans during their critical first year after military discharge.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Military and Veterans Health
- Health Services Research
Background:
- A high suicide rate exists among young U.S. veterans, particularly during the first year post-transition.
- Approximately 200,000 servicemembers leave the military annually, facing elevated suicide risk.
- The VA Veteran Sponsorship Initiative (VSI) is a public-private partnership designed to reduce veteran suicides.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of an adapted VA Veteran Sponsorship Initiative (VSI) protocol.
- To assess the impact of VSI on VA primary care utilization and suicide attempts among transitioning servicemembers.
- To demonstrate the utility of public-private partnerships and peer-sponsorship in supporting military transition.
Main Methods:
- A quasi-experimental, matched-cohort pilot study was conducted between April 2021 and April 2023.
- Adaptations to the VSI protocol were implemented and evaluated using the Framework for Reporting Adaptations and Modifications-Enhanced.
- Effectiveness was assessed for active-duty soldiers enrolled between April and December 2023, using nearest-neighbor matching for a sample of 551 VSI participants and 551 controls.
Main Results:
- The adapted VSI protocol proved feasible for proactive enrollment and expanding infrastructure, partnerships, and services.
- VSI participation led to a statistically significant increase in VA primary care utilization (0.198) 10 months post-discharge.
- VSI participation resulted in a statistically significant decrease in suicide attempts (-0.019) 10 months post-discharge.
Conclusions:
- The VA Veteran Sponsorship Initiative (VSI), augmented by community programs like Onward Ops, effectively supports servicemembers during military transition.
- Public-private partnerships and peer-sponsorship programs are valuable in enhancing VA services and reducing suicide risk.
- The findings support the national implementation of VSI to improve health outcomes for transitioning veterans.
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