Mental Health Service Use, Suicide Behavior, and Emergency Department Visits Among Rural US Veterans Who Received Video-Enabled Tablets During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

ABSTRACT:

Importance

Suicide rates are rising disproportionately in rural counties, a concerning pattern as the COVID-19 pandemic has intensified suicide risk factors in these regions and exacerbated barriers to mental health care access. Although telehealth has the potential to improve access to mental health care, telehealth's effectiveness for suicide-related outcomes remains relatively unknown.

Objective

To evaluate the association between the escalated distribution of the US Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA's) video-enabled tablets during the COVID-19 pandemic and rural veterans' mental health service use and suicide-related outcomes.

Design, setting, and participants

This retrospective cohort study included rural veterans who had at least 1 VA mental health care visit

SUBMITTER: Gujral K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8987904 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature