Combating Veterans "Deaths of Despair"
A Trinity College psychology and neuroscience professor, Timothy Strauman, PhD, helped to plan and chair two National Academies meetings focused on reducing suicide risk among Veterans. In an interview with Trinity, Strauman said the idea came about as he and colleagues were discussing "deaths of despair," where inidivduals struggling with their sense of belonging tend to have higher suicide rates. The focus on veterans came from a desire to want to do more for those who serve. His two major recommendations:
"The major recommendation of the first meeting was to organize the remarkable work taking place on the ground so that there are regional and national resources to help people.
The recommendation from the second meeting focused on non-VA healthcare systems. If they are going to be charged with the responsibility of providing mental health care for VA-eligible people, then there needs to be a more systematic way of ensuring quality control. "
