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. 2022 Nov;58(8):1544-1553.
doi: 10.1007/s10597-022-00969-z. Epub 2022 May 7.

Using Veterans Socials to Build a Community: Feasibility of the VOICES Intervention

Jay A Gorman  1   2   3 , Elizabeth S Chamberlin  4   5 , Brian J Stevenson  1   2 , Rachelle Calixte  3 , Donna M Crossman  6   7 , Meghan E Ahern  8 , Jessica Mack  8 , Anthony Russo  8 , Edward J Federman  8
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Using Veterans Socials to Build a Community: Feasibility of the VOICES Intervention

Jay A Gorman et al. Community Ment Health J. 2022 Nov.

Abstract

Increasing social connection and access to care has been found to decrease the rate of suicide in U.S. veterans. The Veteran Outreach Into the Community to Expand Social Support (VOICES) is an intervention developed by Department Veteran Affairs (VA) staff to improve social connection and provide information about services by implementing community-based Veterans Socials. Seventy veterans at eight locations completed an anonymous cross-sectional survey. This evaluation examined three domains, acceptability (i.e., perceived value), demand (i.e., estimated or actual use), and expansion (i.e., sustainability and increase of Veterans Socials across time and locations). Findings indicated considerable levels of acceptability, demand for, and expansion of this intervention. Additionally, data suggested this intervention may increase social connection and utilization of VA services among attendees.

Keywords: Coffee socials; Community engagement; Social connectedness; Suicide prevention; Veterans.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no financial or non-financial interests to disclose that are relevant to the content of this article.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Expansion of VCS from 2014 to 2019
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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