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Session Submission Summary

Mental Illness, Treatment Utilization, and Treatment Outcomes Among Justice-Involved Veterans

Fri, Nov 21, 11:00am to 12:20pm, Marriott, Pacific C, 4th Floor

Session Submission Type: Complete Thematic Panel

Abstract

Justice-involved Veterans are a highly vulnerable population with high rates of mental illness and substance abuse, which puts them at higher risk for homelessness and criminal recidivism. The current panel examines justice-involved Veterans with mental health (MH) and substance use disorder (SUD) conditions and treatment utilization and outcomes. The first paper reports on conditions and treatment utilization among Veterans exiting prison who have contact with Veterans Health Administration (VHA) outreach workers. Half of these Veterans do not come into VHA in the year after their outreach visit, but of those who do and who have MH/SUD conditions, most receive some MH or SUD treatment. The second paper focuses on dually diagnosed Veterans in VHA mental health treatment programs. Those with arrest histories had more severe problems at baseline, but were more likely to participate in 12-step Mutual-Help groups. The third paper discusses jail diversion as one promising strategy to link justice-involved Veterans with needed services in the fourth paper. The final paper highlights personality as a predictor of mental health functioning and substance abuse treatment outcomes. Justice-involved Veterans have extensive MH/SUD problems, but VHA has developed services that appear to be addressing the treatment needs of this vulnerable population.

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