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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Veterans

Achieving Health Equity in US Suicides: A Narrative Review and Commentary
Discusses suicide mortality disparities by different demographics, such as age, race, veteran status, and rurality, among others. Tracks suicide rates from 1999-2019 and highlights rates by specific demographic group.
Author(s): Seth W. Perry, Jacob C. Rainey, Stephen Allison, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 22, 1360
Date: 07/2022
Type: Document
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Veteran Mobility and COVID-19
Examines veterans living in rural areas and how their mobility options, cost of transportation, use of telehealth, access to healthy food, and social isolation have been impacted by COVID-19. Discusses issues and policies related to improving healthcare transportation and access to Veterans Administration (VA) services for rural veterans. Includes data on veteran demographics and survey responses to health- and transportation-related questions.
Additional links: Executive Summary, Video Summary
Author(s): Del Peterson, Jill Hough, Antonio Molina
Date: 05/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: North Dakota State University, Small Urban and Rural Center on Mobility, Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute
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Community Clergy Training to Support Rural Veterans' Mental Health
Report discusses a mental health training program for clergy to support the mental health of rural veterans. Discusses the focuses of the training program and highlights outcomes from the increase of access to mental health support for rural veterans.
Date: 05/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Veterans Health Administration's Office of Rural Health
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Behavioral Health Screening and Care Coordination for Rural Veterans in a Federally Qualified Health Center
Highlights the VA's nurse-led Collaborative System of Care (CSC) program's work in connecting veterans at rural Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) to the VA's behavioral health services and discusses the role care coordination can play in connecting rural veterans to other healthcare services. Details the efficacy of the CSC program and outlines the program's structure and screening process.
Author(s): M. Bryant Howren, Debra Kazmerzak, Sheryl Pruin, et al.
Citation: Journal of Behavioral Health Services and Research, 49, 50-60
Date: 05/2022
Type: Document
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American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans in the Indian Health Service: Health Status, Utilization, and Cost
Highlights a study evaluating the care received by veterans through the Indian Health Service (IHS). Discusses the reimbursement agreements between the VA and IHS and compares health outcomes of veteran and non-veterans receiving care through IHS. Breaks down data by age group, health condition, and veteran status, among other measures.
Author(s): Carol E. Kaufman, Laura Grau, Rene Begay, et al.
Citation: PLOS One, 17(4), e0266378
Date: 04/2022
Type: Document
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Suicide Among American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans Who Use Veterans Health Administration Care: 2004–2018
Examines suicide rates between 2004 and 2018 in American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) veterans who utilized healthcare services from the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Examines trends in suicide rates by 5-year observation periods starting in 2004 and breaks down data by age, sex, and race (single race AI/AN or multi-race AI/AN).
Author(s): Nathaniel V. Mohatt, Claire A. Hoffmire, Alexandra L. Schneider, et al.
Citation: Medical Care, 60(4), 275-278
Date: 04/2022
Type: Document
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Veteran Dental Care Stimulates the Economy and Improves Overall Health
Report discusses veterans' access to oral healthcare and explores the economic implications to expanding dental care to veterans. Highlights the economic impact of dental clinics on rural communities, as well as expanding oral healthcare coverage to veterans.
Date: 04/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: CareQuest Institute for Oral Health
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Mental Health Service Use, Suicide Behavior, and Emergency Department Visits Among Rural US Veterans Who Received Video-Enabled Tablets During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Results of a study to examine whether a United States Veterans Affairs initiative to distribute video-enabled tablets during the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with mental healthcare access, suicide behavior, or emergency department (ED) visits among rural veterans. Features demographics and statistics on mental health services use and ED visits, with breakdowns by tablet recipients and nonrecipients.
Author(s): Kritee Gujral, James Van Campen, Josephine Jacobs, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 5(4)
Date: 04/2022
Type: Document
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Tailoring Opioid Overdose Prevention Efforts for Diverse Groups within Tribal and Urban Indian Settings - A Toolkit for Providers and Community Organizations Serving American Indian/Alaska Native Communities
Toolkit features resources and strategies for preventing opioid overdoses in American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities. Features information for AI/AN elders, youth, veterans, and LGBTQ2S+, as well as urban and tribal communities.
Author(s): Danielle Eakins, Maya Magarati, Katie Hess, et al.
Date: 03/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Seven Directions - A Center for Indigenous Public Health
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Veterans Health Care: Efforts to Hire Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists
Describes efforts taken by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) to promote the hiring of licensed professional mental health counselors (LPMHC) and marriage and family therapists (MFT) at Department of Veterans Affairs' facilities. Examines the extent to which VA medical facilities are employing LPMHCs and MFTs and how their recent employment compares with other mental health professions. Discusses considerations regarding the availability of LPMHCs and MFTs in rural communities.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 03/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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