Lessons Learned from Mental Health Enhancement and Suicide Prevention Activities in the Veterans Health Administration

The author reflects on suicide among U.S. military veterans and on a program which the U.S. Veterans Health Administration developed to provide clinical services to and prevent suicide among military veterans. He suggests that observations from the administration may provide support for the importance of public health models for suicide prevention. He argues that additional research needs to be conducted on suicide prevention among veterans which can lead to public health interventions.