VA OIG Testified before Congress on VA Mental Health Policies

“Each day, VA staff actively engage in providing high-quality wraparound mental health services to veterans across the country. These services include screening for mental health needs and suicide risk factors, connecting veterans with identified risk factors to higher-level services, managing veterans’ acute mental health crises in a variety of therapeutic settings, and supporting families who have lost a loved one to suicide. But there is much more work to be done. Leaders must ensure adherence to VHA policies and consistently implement practices designed to support veterans facing mental health challenges. In a large, decentralized healthcare system, these leaders must have clearly defined standardized roles, responsibilities, and the authority to drive necessary improvements and hold staff accountable.”

—Dr. Julie Kroviak, Principal Deputy Assistant Inspector General, in the role of Acting Assistant Inspector General for the Office of Healthcare Inspections  

Please see the full written statement.

Related Reports

• Inadequate Governance Structure and Identification of Chief Mental Health Officers’ Responsibilities
• Inadequate Staff Training and Lack of Oversight Contribute to the Veterans Health Administration’s Suicide Risk Screening and Evaluation Deficiencies
• Noncompliance with Suicide Prevention Policies at the Overton Brooks VA Medical Center in Shreveport, Louisiana