Veterans Suicide Prevention Insights to Action

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Suicide Prevention Insights to Action
Increasing capacity to use suicide prevention data in Minnesota
Suicide Prevention Insights to Action is a quarterly publication developed by the Minnesota Department of Health Suicide Prevention Data Action Team. The goal is to improve individual, organization, and community capacity to use suicide-related data to identify high-risk groups, set priority prevention activities, and monitor the effects of suicide prevention programs.

The data: Veterans’ physical health is an important factor in suicide prevention
Physical health problems are a risk factor for suicides, and especially among people who have served in the military. According to Minnesota Department of Health analysis of the Minnesota Violent Death Reporting System 2015-2022 data, Veterans are 50% more likely to have a physical health problem contributing to their suicide than non-veterans.

The resource: Importance of screening patients for military service
Veterans seek health care services from many settings, including civilian health care systems. Knowing a patient’s military service history can help you address service-related health needs that may otherwise be missed. Review the Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians’ article on the Importance of Screening Patients for Military Service to learn why asking about military service matters and how to respond when a patient says “Yes.”

The action: Ask the question
Advocate to make it routine for your organization to screen patients for military service. Ask every adult patient if they served in the military and use this information to provide holistic care for veterans in your community. You can also connect Veteran patients with their County Veteran Service Officer (CVSO). Names and contact information for CVSOs can be found at Find Your CVSO.

For more mail us at health.suicideprev.mdh with any questions.

Additional information:For Local Crisis Help in east central Minnesota: 800-523-3333 | Text: “MN” to 741741 | Call/Text 988
VA Crisis Lines: Dial 988 then Press 1 | or Text 838255 | or Call 800-273-8255 press 1
Life-threatening emergencies call 911 or 988