Positive Mental Health Screens in the Veterans Health Administration, 2021 to 2024

How has the prevalence of mental health risk changed in recent years?This cohort study including over 3 million Veterans Health Administration (VA) patients found that from 2021 to 2024, adjusted positive screening rates increased 9% for depression and 30% for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD); positive screens decreased 29% for suicide risk and 7% for alcohol use disorder. Being younger, having higher clinical risk, and living far from medical facilities increased the odds of positive screening.These findings suggest the need to manage depression and PTSD while signaling slight improvements for suicide risk and alcohol use in the VA.

Corresponding Author: Linda Diem Tran, PhD, Health Economics Resource Center, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, 795 Willow Rd, 152 MPD, Menlo Park, CA 94025 (linda.tran4@va.gov).

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