Psychiatric services : a journal of the American Psychiatric Association
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The U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is shifting its focus from ending veteran homelessness to preventing veteran suicides. ⋯ S. veterans in 2015 shows that veterans with a history of homelessness attempted suicide in the previous two years at a rate >5.0 times higher compared with veterans without a history of homelessness (6.9% versus 1.2%), and their rates of two-week suicidal ideation were 2.5 times higher (19.8% versus 7.4%). Because the majority of veterans who die by suicide are not engaged in VA care, VA services for the homeless that include outreach efforts to engage new veterans may be reaching some of these veterans. Thus continued federal support for VA homelessness services not only may help address homelessness but also may help prevent suicide of veterans.
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This study measured Americans' willingness to pay an additional $50 in taxes to improve health care and social services for individuals with serious mental illness. ⋯ Many Americans are willing to pay additional taxes to improve health care and social services for individuals with serious mental illness.