AAS Military & Veterans Suicide Prevention Flashcards
6 cards from real AAS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 AAS Military & Veterans Suicide Prevention flashcards as text
Which VA program specifically trains VA mental health staff in evidence-based suicide risk assessment and safety planning?
Answer: Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS)
CAMS (Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality) is widely implemented by VA mental health staff as an evidence-based, collaborative approach to suicide risk management.
Guard and Reserve members face unique suicide risk factors compared to active-duty personnel primarily because they:
Answer: May lack access to military mental health resources while living in civilian communities
Guard and Reserve members often live far from military installations and VA facilities, limiting access to military-specific mental health support between activations.
The 'buddy system' or peer support approach in military suicide prevention is effective primarily because it:
Answer: Leverages unit cohesion and trusted relationships to facilitate early intervention
Peer support capitalizes on the strong bonds and trust within military units, enabling earlier identification and intervention by trusted peers before professional help is sought.
A veteran receiving VA care who expresses suicidal ideation during a telehealth appointment should receive which intervention as a priority?
Answer: Immediate safety planning and connection to the Veterans Crisis Line or same-day services
Imminent suicidal ideation requires immediate safety planning and connection to crisis resources regardless of the care setting, including telehealth.
Research on veteran suicide prevention has found that which protective factor is most consistently associated with reduced suicide risk in this population?
Answer: Strong social connectedness and unit/community belonging
Social connectedness—having meaningful relationships and a sense of belonging—is one of the most robust protective factors against suicide in veteran populations.
The VA's 'REACH VET' program uses predictive analytics to:
Answer: Identify veterans at elevated statistical risk for suicide so proactive outreach can occur
REACH VET (Recovery Engagement and Coordination for Health—Veterans Enhanced Treatment) uses statistical modeling to identify high-risk veterans and prompts their providers to conduct proactive outreach.