{"id":58590,"date":"2021-04-05T17:47:52","date_gmt":"2021-04-05T17:47:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2021\/04\/05\/va-suicide-prevention-staff-face-burnout-as-workload-rises-watchdog-warns\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T11:00:22","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T11:00:22","slug":"va-suicide-prevention-staff-face-burnout-as-workload-rises-watchdog-warns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/veterans\/2021\/04\/05\/va-suicide-prevention-staff-face-burnout-as-workload-rises-watchdog-warns\/","title":{"rendered":"VA suicide prevention staff face burnout as workload rises, watchdog warns"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As demand for mental health services and suicide prevention programs<\/a> increases within Veterans Affairs offices, staffers there may be at risk of exhaustion and burnout if changes aren\u2019t made to better track and manage those employees, an outside watchdog warned Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a new report<\/a>, the Government Accountability Office said that department leaders have not done a thorough enough review of VA suicide prevention teams\u2019 staffing, workloads and challenges. Without that, they cautioned, leaders do not have enough visibility over operations to ensure new prevention programs are being implemented properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOne team said they have experienced burnout and turnover in the team due to the \u2018constant deluge\u2019 of new initiatives, combined with their large caseload of high-risk veterans,\u201d the report stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMembers of another team told us their team has a caseload of about 150-200 veterans identified as being high risk for suicide \u2026 However, the Veterans Health Administration has not conducted a comprehensive evaluation of local suicide prevention teams, including an assessment of any challenges teams face in implementing VHA policies and the effects of program growth on workload.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t