1. VITAL: Suicide Prevention for Student Veterans
Aaron Ahern, Ph.D.

2. Challenges facing veterans
High rates of mental health disorders and suicide among OIF/OEF/OND Veterans
Rural Veterans are especially at risk
The Intermountain West has one of the highest rates of rurality and frontier regions in the Nation
Utah and Southeastern Idaho have the highest percentage rates of unit deployment into combat zones in the US

3. Challenges facing veterans
Poor mental health functioning compounded by low rates of health care utilization
OEF/OIF/OND Veterans have been found to have a range of reintegration difficulties including:
developing and maintaining personal relationships with civilians
anger management
substance use
legal problems
successful completion of work and school related tasks.
Successful reintegration is a critical topic for Veteran health and suicide prevention

4. Scope of the problem
National Statistics on Veteran Suicide (August 2017)
In 2014
An average of 20 veterans died by suicide each day
Suicide rate among all veterans was 38.4 per 100,000
Suicide risk for veterans was 22% higher than U.S. civilian adults
Trend from 2001 until 2014
Rate of suicide among U.S. veterans increased by 31.1%

5. Scope of the problem Utah Specific Statistics on Veteran Suicide
In 2014
Overall suicide rate in Utah was 25.8 per 100,000
Suicide rate for veterans in Utah is statistically significantly higher than the Utah civilian and national rate for veterans
62.4 per 100,000

6. Data regarding VA suicide
Of the veterans that commit suicide only 30% were receiving services at the VA
From 2001 until 2014 the rate of suicide for veterans receiving VA services increased 9%
The suicide rate for non-VA user increased by 39%
The suicide rate for civilians increased by 23%

7. Importance of going beyond VA
Dr. Craig Bryan’s testimony before senate committee on veteran’s affairs 9/27/2017
“… our efforts must extend beyond the walls of our VA facilities. If we confine our efforts solely to the VA, we will not have a significant impact on overall Veteran suicide rates. We must therefore seek to complement suicide prevention efforts in the VA with suicide prevention efforts in the community at large”
Mention that our peers have been trained in CRP?

8. VITAL Suicide prevention
The VITAL program is uniquely poised to serve as a mechanism for effective suicide prevention
VITAL can address the risk factors for suicide preemptively by:
Proactively reaching out to veterans
Helping them overcome obstacles in their path to success
Reducing suicide through aiding veterans in living productive and meaningful lives

9. What is VITAL? Veterans Integration to Academic Leadership
Approx. 25 sites nationally
Covering 8 schools locally
Veterans bring unique experiences and skills, but face unique challenges and obstacles in the university setting
VITAL program aids student veterans in adjusting to the academic setting, helps them overcome obstacles that might impede academic success, and supports them in completing their educational goals.

10. Roles Outreach Care coordination Mental health treatment
Training for faculty and staff

11. Outreach To Veterans To VA, on campus, and community organizations
Raise awareness of benefits and services to which they are entitled
Aid veterans in accessing needed services
To VA, on campus, and community organizations
Develop collaboration between diverse systems in order to create a network of resources for student veterans

12. Peer to peer outreach Systematic outreach to student veterans
Assess needs
Case management/referrals to resources on campus, in the community, and at the VA
Help with educational benefits
Guidance/support
Help overcoming stigma related to help seeking and mental health
Crisis response planning as needed

13. Care Coordination
For the student veteran: One stop source for all things VHA/VA
Help navigating a complex and intimidating system
Help with enrollment
Referrals to appropriate providers
Outlet for frustrations with the system
When possible advocate for resolution of concerns

14. Care Coordination
Documentation of functional impairments for accommodations from the disability resource center
Aid in adjustment to civilian/academic life
Addressing how to manage military versus academic/civilian cultures and identities
Referral to a network of providers on campus and or the community; Ex. Veterans Support Center, Tutoring, Veterans upward bound, Disability resource center, certifying official, Counseling center, Health center

15. Mental Health Treatment
Provide a variety of mental health services on site
Individual therapy
Including EBTs for PTSD
Family therapy
Psychological testing to properly diagnose learning disabilities/ADHD

16. VITAL’s Outcomes N = 70 (At least 3 contacts with VITAL)
7% had graduated
80% still pursuing education
13% no longer pursuing education
3 working, 3 had moved, 1 school closed
97% of the respondents stated that the VITAL program had been helpful to them in academic pursuits
76% stated “very helpful”
98% of the respondents stated that the VITAL program had been helpful to their mental health
75% stated “very helpful”
Qualitative data
Academics: 3% Not helpful, 6% A little helpful, 15% Moderately, 76% Very Helpful
Mental health: 2% Not helpful, 10% A little helpful, 13% Moderately, 75% Very Helpful

17. Panel Discussion Luis Fuentes, Lead VITAL Peer SLCC
Brian Livesay, Lead VITAL peer Idaho State

18. Contact information
D. Aaron Ahern

19. Questions?