The Veterans Administration (VA) is looking at ways to improve care for veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan since 37 percent of these veterans receive a mental health diagnosis.
The VA’s research program called the “Mental Health Quality Enhancement Research Initiative” (MH-QUERI) is studying how to close gaps in knowledge and implement evidence-based practices in the mental health field.
The most common cause of morbidity and mortality among veterans with serious mental illnesses includes cardiovascular disease which can be exacerbated by the metabolic side effect of antipsychotics.
To find solutions, MH-QUERI has been and continues to work on improving the metabolic side-effect monitoring and management for veterans taking antipsychotics. The “MIRECC Initiative on Antipsychotics Management Improvement” or called the MIAMI Project is involved in training clinicians on safely prescribing antipsychotics.
MH-QUERI actively supports implementing “Primary Care Mental Health Integration” (PC-MHI) models. The program is working to reduce homelessness as a way to help veterans with mental issues and involve families in mental health care. They are also looking to see if adding consumer providers to mental health intensive case management teams would be effective.
For more information email Linda McIvor, QUERI Program Manager, at Linda.Mclvor@va.gov or call (202) 443-5740.