Building Evaluation Capacity to Prevent Veteran Suicide

Empowering Veteran-Serving Organizations to use data for upstream suicide prevention

Veterans are at higher risk for suicide than the general population.

Suicide is a serious and growing problem in the U.S. The number of deaths by suicide increased by about 36 percent between 2000 and 2022. For veterans, suicide was the twelfth leading cause of death in 2022, according to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs. That year, there were 6,407 suicides among veterans, an average of 18 each day.

Veterans are at higher risk for suicide than the general population. Many face unique challenges including stress from relationships, health issues, substance misuse, financial problems or trouble finding housing or a job.

But suicide is preventable. Suicide is rarely caused by any single factor, which means there are multiple opportunities for prevention. That’s where Veteran-Serving Organizations (VSOs) play a critical role. VSOs provide essential programs and services that help address the root causes of suicide risk, offering support with employment, housing, education, life skills, mental health and community connection. While many VSOs don’t label their work as suicide prevention, their efforts directly impact the health and well-being of veterans.

However, many VSOs face challenges with program evaluation, the process of collecting data to understand what impact their programs are making and how they can be improved. These challenges include limited time, resources and evaluation expertise. With the right tools and support, VSOs can build capacity to evaluate their programs, improve outcomes and tell a stronger story about their role in keeping veterans safe and connected.
 

VSO Voices: In Their Own Words 

“The biggest impact that this program has brought to us is the focus on outcomes and data. We know that we do an amazing job, but how do you package that in a way so we can continue to grow the impact?” 

—Lacy Gunnoe, Camp Southern Ground

“The VSPE program has taught us where we can make improvements to help with upstream veteran suicide prevention and…to figure out those gaps and how to address those gaps.” 

— Brandon Healy, formerly with Operation Stand Down Tennessee

VSPE Resource Hub

To make program evaluation more accessible to a wider audience, the CDC Foundation, Safe States Alliance and CDC collaborated with participating VSOs to develop the VSPE Resource Hub, a collection of free, practical evaluation tools and resources, including:

• VSPE Core Toolkit: Plain language guidance on key evaluation concepts and practices.
• VSPE Practice Workbook: Hands-on worksheets that help VSOs apply what they’ve learned to their own programs.
• VSPE Additional Resources: Curated links to other trusted materials to better educate VSOs about evaluation.

The VSPE Resource Hub, based on the CDC Framework for Program Evaluation in Public Health, is designed to be flexible—whether VSOs are starting from scratch or looking to strengthen existing evaluation efforts. 
 

Learn more about the VSPE program’s impact: 

• Read an evaluation on the first three years of the VSPE program—it shows positive impacts on VSO work
• Read about the common theme that emerged when VSOs presented their evaluation findings at a VSPE convening
• Listen to a podcast episode: “I truly think we’re years ahead of where we would’ve been without VSPE”
• Read how VSPE helped organizations like The Warrior Alliance and Project Sanctuary deepen their impact

Learn about VSPE program updates over the years:

• 2018-2019: VSPE awards five VSOs
  • Read what Year 1 VSOs had to say about the VSPE program
  • Learn how VSPE grantee StackUp connects veterans and civilians through a shared passion for gaming
• 2019-2020: VSPE awards seven VSOs
  • VSPE hosts virtual meeting to facilitate knowledge transfer and strategic partnership building among VSOs
  • See what Year 2 of VSPE achieved
• 2020-2021: VSPE awards seven VSOs
• 2021-2022: VSPE awards four VSOs, and new opportunity to participate in community of practice
  • VSPE hosts an Open Space networking event where CDC partners and VSO grantees shaped the agenda and goals
  • VSPE convenes public health, VSOs, and partners to advance upstream suicide prevention
    • See the convening recap and profiles of those leading the work
• 2023-2024: VSPE awards six VSOs 

This program is supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) via multiple financial assistance awards totaling $2,940,000 with 100 percent funded by CDC/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, CDC/HHS or the U.S. Government.