Veterans health administration leads the way in population mental health science: Commentary on Dodge et al. (2024).

Recently, Dodge et al. (2024) published an article in offering recommendations to the mental health field for changing from an individual-level to a population-level focus. These recommendations included scaling up evidence-based programs, innovating and evaluating population-level interventions, and creating a primary system of care to promote mental health and well-being.

Psychology Recognition Week: A Blueprint for Recognizing and Promoting the Contributions of Psychology at Academic Health Centers.

It is important to recognize and celebrate the contributions of psychologists at Academic Health Centers (AHCs). Recognition events can help attract, retain, and honor professionals who play essential roles in healthcare. This case study describes the establishment of a national Psychology Recognition Week in the Department of Veterans Affairs and offers a model for other AHCs looking to implement a similar initiative.

Virtual mental health care in the Veterans Health Administration's immediate response to coronavirus disease-19.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has increased the need for psychological care in the global population and has created new barriers to accessing services. Hospitals, mental health facilities, and other clinics face the challenge of providing continued care to a population that is under severe stress, while minimizing in-person visits that risk spreading the virus. The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,286 sites.

Mental Health Service Utilization before and after Receipt of a Service-Connected Disability Award for PTSD: Findings from a National Sample.

Objective: To determine patterns of mental health service use before and after VA disability compensation awards for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Data Sources: A 10 percent random sample of VHA-enrolled Veterans with new or increased PTSD service connection between 2012 and 2014 (n = 22,249).

Study Design: We used latent trajectory analysis to identify utilization patterns and multinomial logistic regression to assess associations between Veteran characteristics and trajectory membership.

Integrative outpatient treatment for returning service members.

Veterans returning from Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) frequently present with multiple psychological and physical symptoms. The authors propose an innovative approach in which primary care providers, polytrauma specialists, vocational rehabilitation specialists, and mental health clinicians work together to provide care that is not simply concurrent, but truly integrated. All members of this interdisciplinary team must provide a consistent message that supports treatment engagement and progress.