Caban Q&A: suicide prevention goals and measurable outcomes
Caban asks what specific changes the city has made in response to findings that veterans die by suicide at twice the civilian rate, and whether measurable prevention goals exist. Orlando describes connecting at-risk veterans to services and building community before crisis.
Last question I'll ask in this round and then turn over to Chair Caban and my colleagues has to do with an issue that we've all touched upon, which is veterans who take their own life.
Commissioner, you testified that research covering 2012 through 2022
found that New York City veterans died by suicide at approximately twice the rate of the civilian population with particularly concerning disparities among younger veterans.
What specific changes has the city made in response to those findings?
Have you established measurable suicide prevention goals?
And how will we know whether the city's efforts are actually making a difference?
Thank you for that question.
And as we stated before of not being a clinical provider, what we are ensuring is that our
follow-up with our veterans who may have been answering screeners that indicate they are at risk are being connected to additional services, as well as the emphasis on building that community and camaraderie to ensure that before we get to crisis, there is support for those veterans as well.