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Characteristics and VA Health Care Utilization of U.S. Veterans Who Completed Suicide in Oregon Between 2000 and 2005
Author(s) -
Basham Chandra,
Denneson Lauren M.,
Millet Lisa,
Shen Xun,
Duckart Jonathan,
Dobscha Steven K.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
suicide and life‐threatening behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.544
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1943-278X
pISSN - 0363-0234
DOI - 10.1111/j.1943-278x.2011.00028.x
Subject(s) - veterans affairs , medicine , mental health , health care , suicide prevention , family medicine , occupational safety and health , gerontology , psychiatry , medical emergency , poison control , pathology , economics , economic growth
Oregon Violent Death Reporting System data were linked with Veterans Affairs (VA) administrative data to identify and describe veterans who completed suicide in Oregon from 2000 to 2005 ( n = 968), and to describe their VA health care utilization in the year prior to death. Twenty‐two percent had received health care in the VA system. Of these, 57% did not have mental health diagnoses and 58% had not seen mental health professionals. A larger proportion of those who accessed care were VA‐enrolled and received service‐connected disability benefits. Fifty‐five veterans were hospitalized during the year prior to death. Of these, 33% completed suicide within 30 days of a hospitalization. Further development of suicide prevention strategies for veterans in the community, including general medical treatment settings, is indicated.