Preventing Veteran suicide is a top priority for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This is a sensitive issue with complicated and diverse target audiences, many of whom distrust Federal services. It is imperative to reach these at risk populations with proactive and trust-worthy communications and focused and effective outreach activities.
VA is taking decisive action to prevent Veteran death by suicide. The Department will proactively partner with Veterans and their families; federal, state, local, and tribal governments; community organizations; and other stakeholders to reach out, engender trust, reduce stigma, and encourage our NationÂs heroes to apply for the benefits and services they have earned. VA must also reach out to Veterans who are experiencing mental health crises and provide confident and trustworthy counseling.
To prevent suicide and save one life at a time, 18 lives per day, the Department must act now and reach out to these populations and their influencers; however, to truly make a difference, it canÂt just reach out, VA must employ sound and proven outreach strategies which are evidence-based and include messaging which has been tested and focused for specific audiences. To achieve these steps, the Department will conduct focus groups with Veterans and their families. Therefore, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) respectfully requests an emergency OMB clearance to perform focus groups and collect information to support outreach efforts in reaching this critical audience and the people who they trust.
An emergency focus group clearance is being requested in regards to the Veterans Suicide Prevention Program. U.S. President, Barack Obama, and Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) Secretary, Erik K. Shinseki, have made ending Veteran Homelessness and preventing Veteran suicide top priorities for their administrations. Both homelessness and suicide are sensitive issues with complicated and diverse target audiences many of whom distrust Federal services. It is imperative to reach these at risk populations with proactive and trust-worthy communications and focused and effective outreach activities.
Understanding and ending homelessness among Veterans requires careful research and very targeted communications. VA estimates approximately 107,000 Veterans on any given night are homeless and nearly 1.5 million more are considered at risk of homelessness. The urgency to communicate VA benefit and service information to these individuals as well as to groups and stakeholders who can help is not only daunting, but increasingly necessary.
In addition to the large number of homeless Veterans and those at risk of becoming homeless, suicide is occurring at an alarming rate among our NationÂs heroes, particularly for those between the ages of 18 and 29. The suicide rate for these young Veterans went up 26 percent from 2005 to 2007. VA estimates that, on average, 18 Veterans die by suicide each day; of those, five are receiving care in the VA healthcare system; and, three have been diagnosed with mental health conditions. Yet statistics indicate Veterans aged 18 to 29 years old who use VA healthcare services are less likely to die by suicide than those who do not. For the Department to be successful in reducing the number of Veteran suicides, it is critical to establish a level of interest and trust in VAÂs services. The Department must also motivate target audiences to make the critical call for help and erode the stigma many Veterans associate with seeking mental health services.
VA is taking decisive action to end Veteran homelessness in five years and prevent Veteran suicide. To increase strategic outreach to Veterans and their families, the Department created a National Outreach Office within the Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs (OPIA). The new office will assist VA in partnering with federal, state, local, and tribal governments; community organizations; and other stakeholders to reach out, engender trust, reduce stigma, and encourage Veterans to apply for the benefits and services they have earned. In addition, the office is tasked with reaching out to Veterans who are experiencing either mental health crises or require homeless assistance or prevention. To be successful, VA must take proactive and systematic steps in providing information and assistance on programs, services, and benefits. Outreach activities must be research-based, data-driven, audience targeted, results-oriented, and governed by the basic tenets of effective communication and strategic outreach.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Federal Register Notice.mht
Suicide Prevention VA Research Matrix (2).pdf
White paper_OMB Emergency Clearance for Suicide Prevention and Homeless Veterans Outreach Data Collection.doc
Justification_A_Request_to_Conduct_Research_for_Suicide_Prevention_FGs-Final.docx
Veterans Suicide Prevention Focus Group Emergency Request