The Office of Rural Health and Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC) for Veteran Suicide Prevention are working in partnership to promote suicide prevention and risk reduction for this population. They conducted a review of current evidence for suicide prevention with attention to programs that might be appropriate for RNVs. Initial findings indicated that many of the VA evidence-based or best practice programs are available system-wide, but few were designed specifically for rural Veterans and none tailored for RNVs or the communities in which they live. Conversely, many culturally specific programs implemented in Native American communities were rarely disseminated beyond reservation borders and none were specifically developed for Veterans.   

Based upon these findings, and to advance suicide prevention for RNVs, this partnership envisioned a model of RNV suicide prevention that draws upon evidence-based practices, builds upon existing VA infrastructure and frameworks, and integrates tribal-specific cultural approaches to suicide prevention. Specifically, the model being developed supports the relationships between tribal Veterans and VA suicide prevention coordinators (SPCs). SPCs are inter-professional licensed mental health professionals specially trained to manage and coordinate staff consultation, face-to-face or phone support, and assessment to make sure that Veterans who are at-risk or who have suicide related behaviors (SRBs) receive the care they need. In tribal communities, Veterans are specially honored and often have access to a strong support system consisting of other Veterans as well as supportive family, community members and organizations. Many communities mobilize resources to assist Veterans. Veterans may receive support from a variety of groups and representatives, including Tribal Councils; Tribal Health Programs or clinics; and Veteran-run networks like Tribal Veteran Councils or Committees, Tribal Outreach Workers, Warrior Societies, Tribal Veteran Representatives, or Tribal Veterans Service Organizations.