Webinar Series
NEXT UP: November 13, 2024 at 12-1PM
Understanding Veteran Reluctance to Disclose Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors
with Robert Lane, PhD
Purpose Statement:
The purpose of this live, knowledge-based virtual presentation for interprofessional healthcare teams will address suicide disclosure among Veterans. Detecting suicide risk is a top VHA priority, and given this universal suicide screening within VHA is advocated by VHA efforts such as VA RISK ID. To be effective though such efforts require Veteran willingness to disclose suicidal thoughts and behaviors. However, recent research among the public at large reports less than half of persons included in research studies on the disclosure of suicidal thoughts and behaviors (SD) ever disclose suicidal thoughts and behaviors outside of these studies, for example, to family, friends, or health providers. The rate of disclosure of suicidal thoughts and behaviors among Veterans specifically has yet to be studied, however, it is unlikely to be greater among Veterans than civilians, given the influence of mental health stigma in impeding overall Veteran help-seeking. Thus, the intended goal of this presentation is to enable providers to recognize and mitigate potential barriers among Veterans regarding the disclosure of suicidal thoughts and behaviors, in order to facilitate Veteran suicide prevention.
Outcome/Objectives:
At the conclusion of this educational program, learners will be able to:
1. explain important aspects of suicide disclosure among Veterans including; and
2. describe different ways in which providers might be aware of and attempt to address reticence to disclose suicidal thoughts and behaviors among Veteran patients in their clinical practice
Program Description:
The VISN 2 Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Centers (MIRECC) pursues a discovery-to-recovery approach to determine the causes, identify predictors, and develop treatments for individuals with SMI, with emphasis on psychosis and on suicide. The topics for this series consist of innovative treatments that we have created/tested and insights from research that have helped to inform clinical care.
Target Audience:
Physicians, Psychologists, Social Workers, Nurses, Counselors, and Therapists
Accreditations (1 CE): ACCME, ACCME-NP, APA, ASWB, JA IPCE, NBCC, NYSED SW, NYSED Psychology
Registration:
VA Providers (TMS #131014484)
Non-VA Providers (TRAIN #1124081)
PRESENTER:
Robert Lane, Ph.D., is a NY state licensed clinical psychologist and research psychologist, and was previously a VA MIRECC Advanced Postdoctoral Fellow focusing on Veteran Mental Health and Suicide, with the VISN 2 MIRECC, located at the James J. Peters VA Medical Center in Bronx, NY. His research focuses on what motivates and demotivates Veterans from discussing and seeking help for suicidal thoughts and behaviors (suicide disclosure), for the purpose of suicide prevention.
Dr. Lane is interested in suicide disclosure among Veterans generally, and specifically in differences in suicide disclosure among specific Veteran subgroups. Currently he is studying suicide disclosure barriers and motivators among Veterans both broadly, and specifically among racial/ethnic minority Veterans, in a project funded by a VA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion supplement award. Dr. Lane has previously authored multiple publications on suicidal thoughts and behaviors, and is currently preparing for publication a review of over 7000+ research articles, intended to serve as guide to quantitative research on suicide disclosure among mental health providers, family members, intimate partners, and friends of individuals at elevated suicide risk.
Additional Information for TMS Registration:
Questions?
Non-VA employees, please contact the VHA TRAIN Help Desk by email at VHATRAIN@va.gov.
VA employees, please contact Lauran Hardy at Lauran.Hardy@va.gov.
Last updated: October 30, 2024
