EVALUATION OF TELEMENTAL HEALTH CARE WITH VETERANS DURING A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY

ABSTRACTBrian Kiprono Sang’utei: Evaluation of Telemental Health Care with Veterans during a Public Health Emergency(Under the direction of Karl Umble)Introduction: Death by suicide significantly contributes to premature mortality among veterans. Evidence-based practices (EBPs) and innovative interventions can help reduce rising veteran suicide rates. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Suicide Prevention (CBT-SP), an EBP delivered via telemental health, serves veterans with a history of suicidal behaviors in North Carolina and Virginia.Methods: This project used a one-group repeated measures design with three time points to evaluate the factors related to the baseline suicidal ideation, treatment engagement, and treatment outcomes for veterans in Veteran Integrated Service Network (VISN 6), who started and participated in at least one of the twelve sessions of the CBT-SP between March 21, 2020, and May 11, 2023. VISN 6 covers VA Health Care Systems in North Carolina and Virginia, including Telehealth services. After analyzing Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) data from the Veterans Health Administration’s Office of Suicide Prevention, data from 206 veterans referred for CBT-SP were reviewed. Results: Aim 1: Fifty-six percent had a likely suicide attempt documented in the year before referral. No bivariate relationships existed between sociodemographic characteristics and the VA facility with baseline suicidal ideation. Baseline PHQ-8 and PHQ-9 scores were significantly correlated with suicidal ideation, but no link was found between prior suicide events and baseline ideation.