Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention
Stored: 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.
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.[1]
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.[2]
Legislation
The OMHSP was not created by specific legislation but evolved under VHA’s authority from the Veterans Health Care Eligibility Reform Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-262), with its suicide prevention focus strengthened by the Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-110).[3]
Partners
- VA Medical Centers for mental health service delivery
- National Center for PTSD for trauma expertise[4]
- 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.[5]
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.[6]
Divisions
The divisions include:
- Mental Health Services for clinical care oversight.[7]
- Suicide Prevention Program for crisis intervention.
- Policy and Program Development for strategic initiatives.
List of programs
- Veterans Crisis Line (Dial 988, Press 1)[8]
- 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.[9]
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.[10]
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.[11]
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.[12]
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.[13]
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).[14]
Related
See Also Links to related programs articles or organizations:
External links
References
- ↑ "About OMHSP". Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention. https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/about.asp.
- ↑ "VHA Overview". Department of Veterans Affairs. https://www.va.gov/health/.
- ↑ "Suicide Prevention History". Department of Veterans Affairs. https://www.va.gov/opa/speceven/suicideprev/index.asp.
- ↑ "Partners". Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention. https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/partners.asp.
- ↑ "About OMHSP". Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention. https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/about.asp.
- ↑ "VHA Leadership". Department of Veterans Affairs. https://www.va.gov/health/leadership.asp.
- ↑ "Mental Health Services". Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention. https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/mentalhealth/index.asp.
- ↑ "Veterans Crisis Line". Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention. https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/.
- ↑ "FY 2024 Budget in Brief". Department of Veterans Affairs. https://www.va.gov/budget/docs/summary/fy2024VAbudgetinbrief.pdf.
- ↑ "About OMHSP". Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention. https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/about.asp.
- ↑ "FY 2024 Budget in Brief". Department of Veterans Affairs. https://www.va.gov/budget/docs/summary/fy2024VAbudgetinbrief.pdf.
- ↑ "Suicide Prevention". Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention. https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/suicide_prevention/.
- ↑ "About OMHSP". Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention. https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/about.asp.
- ↑ "Suicide Prevention History". Department of Veterans Affairs. https://www.va.gov/opa/speceven/suicideprev/index.asp.