Study: Care for veterans at risk of suicide inadequate

http://www.newsday.com/news/nation/study-care-for-veterans-at-risk-of-suicide-inadequate-1.5204029

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Soldiers from the Farmingdale-based 333rd Military Police Brigade take part in a deployment ceremony at Hofstra University, after which they will head to Fort Bliss, Texas, for mobilization training prior to their scheduled deployment to Afghanistan. (Aug. 23, 2012)

Study: Care for veterans at risk of suicide inadequate
Originally published: May 5, 2013 8:47 PM
Updated: May 5, 2013 9:38 PM
By MARTIN C. EVANS

Large numbers of veterans considered at risk of suicide are not getting adequate follow-up care from mental health clinicians at the nation's Veterans Affairs medical centers, according to a report by the VA inspector general.

The study said that, although the VA requires clinicians who discharge at-risk veterans from inpatient mental health facilities to schedule follow-up evaluations, almost one in three such patients nationwide do not receive adequate monitoring.

Nancy Olsen, the Northport VA Medical Center's suicide prevention coordinator, said her facility offered follow-up care to all 69 of its patients who were identified as high risk of suicide during the yearlong reporting period that ended last Sept. 30.

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In the last three months of 2012, nine Long Island veterans of Iraq or Afghanistan died from suicide or drug overdose, said Nassau Executive Edward Mangano's office. Nationwide, about 22 veterans commit suicide