Making the Environment Safer to Prevent Veteran Suicide

Policy Vets is an organization that collaborates with others to bring thoughtful insights to policies and programs that support veterans, they work on policy issues and engage with subject matter experts with experience in supporting veterans.

We are pleased to share that our CEO & Chair of Design in Mental Health Network Philip Ross has recently been invited as a guest on the Policy Vets Podcast to talk about the importance of making inpatient environments safer for patients and staff.

Listen to this short 30 min podcast where Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Dr. David Shulkin; Executive Director of Policy Vets, Louis Celli & Chair at Design in Mental Health Network Philip Ross talk through the following:

• International suicide prevention strategies and testing standards
• The impact that environment can have on patients' recovery
• Importance of patient's perspective in the design of mental health spaces
  
  

Listen to the podcast in full below:

We also invite you to explore our Ligature-Resistant Bathroom Door that provides patient privacy and dignity without compromising on safety - elements essential in addressing some of the issues discussed in the podcast. 

Useful links:

• Policy Vets Podcast
• Design in Mental Health Network Website

Behavioral health guides for design:

• Office of Mental Health New York (NYS-OMH): Patient Safety Standards, Materials and Systems Guidelines
• Veteran Affairs: Inpatient Mental Health and Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program Design Guide
• Behavioral Health Facility Consulting: Behavioral Health Design Guide