Edit Organization: Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention

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'''Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention (OMHSP)''' is a pivotal office within the Veterans Health Administration, overseeing mental health services and suicide prevention efforts for over 9 million enrolled veterans, integrating care across VA facilities and community partnerships nationwide. {{Official URL (simple)|url=https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/}} ==Mission== The Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention aims to ensure veterans have access to high-quality mental health care and effective suicide prevention resources by developing policies, managing national programs, and fostering collaborations. It addresses conditions like PTSD, depression, and substance use disorders, while implementing strategies like the VA S.A.V.E. training and the 988 Veterans Crisis Line to reduce suicide rates, aligning with VA’s priority to enhance veterans’ mental resilience and recovery.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/about.asp |title=About OMHSP |publisher=Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention |access-date=March 11, 2025}}</ref> ==Parent organization== The OMHSP operates under the [[Veterans Health Administration]], the healthcare delivery component of the [[Department of Veterans Affairs]], which provides integrated medical and mental health services through over 1,200 facilities.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.va.gov/health/ |title=VHA Overview |publisher=Department of Veterans Affairs |access-date=March 11, 2025}}</ref> ==Legislation== The OMHSP was not created by specific legislation but evolved under VHA’s authority from the [https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2021-title38/pdf/USCODE-2021-title38-partII-chap17.pdf Veterans Health Care Eligibility Reform Act of 1996] (Public Law 104-262), with its suicide prevention focus strengthened by the [https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/2372 Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act of 2007] (Public Law 110-110).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.va.gov/opa/speceven/suicideprev/index.asp |title=Suicide Prevention History |publisher=Department of Veterans Affairs |access-date=March 11, 2025}}</ref> ==Partners== * VA Medical Centers for mental health service delivery * National Center for PTSD for trauma expertise<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/partners.asp |title=Partners |publisher=Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention |access-date=March 11, 2025}}</ref> * Community organizations (e.g., SAMHSA) for crisis support ==Number of employees== The exact number of employees is not publicly detailed; OMHSP staff includes mental health policy experts, clinicians, and administrators, integrated within VHA’s workforce of over 300,000, with staffing levels varying by program needs.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/about.asp |title=About OMHSP |publisher=Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention |access-date=March 11, 2025}}</ref> ==Organization structure== OMHSP oversees mental health and suicide prevention through a centralized model: ===Leader=== The Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention is led by the Deputy Chief Patient Care Services Officer for Mental Health, reporting to the Office of Patient Care Services.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.va.gov/health/leadership.asp |title=VHA Leadership |publisher=Department of Veterans Affairs |access-date=March 11, 2025}}</ref> ===Divisions=== The divisions include: * Mental Health Services for clinical care oversight.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/mentalhealth/index.asp |title=Mental Health Services |publisher=Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention |access-date=March 11, 2025}}</ref> * Suicide Prevention Program for crisis intervention. * Policy and Program Development for strategic initiatives. ==List of programs== * Veterans Crisis Line (Dial 988, Press 1)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/ |title=Veterans Crisis Line |publisher=Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention |access-date=March 11, 2025}}</ref> * VA S.A.V.E. Training for suicide prevention education * Mental Health Integration for Primary Care ==Last total enacted budget== The specific budget for OMHSP is not isolated; it’s funded within VHA’s FY 2024 budget of $112.6 billion, with mental health and suicide prevention as key priorities, though exact allocations are not publicly detailed.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.va.gov/budget/docs/summary/fy2024VAbudgetinbrief.pdf |title=FY 2024 Budget in Brief |publisher=Department of Veterans Affairs |access-date=March 11, 2025}}</ref> ==Staff== OMHSP employs a team of mental health specialists, suicide prevention coordinators, and policy staff, though exact numbers are not disclosed; personnel support VA facilities nationwide from headquarters, focusing on program implementation and clinician training.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/about.asp |title=About OMHSP |publisher=Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention |access-date=March 11, 2025}}</ref> ==Funding== Since its formalization, OMHSP has been funded through VHA’s annual appropriations, with FY 2024 at $112.6 billion overall, supporting its mental health and suicide prevention efforts, bolstered by legislative mandates like the 2007 Omvig Act.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.va.gov/budget/docs/summary/fy2024VAbudgetinbrief.pdf |title=FY 2024 Budget in Brief |publisher=Department of Veterans Affairs |access-date=March 11, 2025}}</ref> ==Services provided== OMHSP coordinates mental health care (e.g., PTSD, depression treatment), manages suicide prevention initiatives like the Veterans Crisis Line, develops policies to enhance care access, and provides veterans and clinicians with resources like S.A.V.E. training to address mental health challenges.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/suicide_prevention/ |title=Suicide Prevention |publisher=Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention |access-date=March 11, 2025}}</ref> ==Regulations overseen== OMHSP does not directly oversee regulations but establishes VHA mental health policies and ensures compliance with VA standards for care delivery and suicide prevention.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/about.asp |title=About OMHSP |publisher=Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention |access-date=March 11, 2025}}</ref> ==Headquarters address== 810 Vermont Ave NW, Washington, DC 20420 ==History== The OMHSP traces its roots to VHA’s mental health efforts post-1996 Veterans Health Care Eligibility Reform Act, with a distinct suicide prevention focus emerging after the 2007 Joshua Omvig Act. Formally structured in the late 2000s, it has expanded to lead VA’s mental health strategy, integrating services like the Veterans Crisis Line (relaunched with 988 in 2022).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.va.gov/opa/speceven/suicideprev/index.asp |title=Suicide Prevention History |publisher=Department of Veterans Affairs |access-date=March 11, 2025}}</ref> ==Related== See Also Links to related programs articles or organizations: * [[Veterans Health Administration]] * [[Office of Patient Care Services]] * [[National Center for PTSD]] ==External links== * [https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/ Official Website] * [[wikipedia:Veterans Health Administration]] * [https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/ Veterans Crisis Line] ==References== <references />