Rajeev Ramchand

How to Put RAND Findings on Veteran Support for Extremism in Context

A RAND survey found that U.S. veterans appeared to support extremist groups at a rate lower than the general population. In contrast, a new University of Maryland study found that veteran status was the most prominent characteristic among extremists involved in terrorism attacks with four or more victims.

State and Local Policy Is Changing for Psychedelics. What Will the Feds Do?

Psychedelics are attracting interest as a treatment for some mental health conditions. In response, some states and cities are changing their laws and policies on the supply and use of these mind-altering substances. But like cannabis, most psychedelics are federally prohibited—raising some tough questions for the federal government.

RAND Experts on Veteran Mental Health Respond to the White House Mental Health Research Priorities

The White House identified eight research priorities to better manage America's current mental health crisis. RAND researchers highlight why each area is critical for veteran mental health and how RAND is contributing to address them.

The Precarious Transition of Unvaccinated Service Members

U.S. service members separated from the military for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine were largely separated with a general discharge under honorable conditions. While they may be eligible for health care and disability compensation from the VA, they are not eligible for G.I. Bill benefits. How have they fared as they entered civilian society unvaccinated and with limited benefits?

Help, Not Just Hunt, Violent Extremists in the Military

The Pentagon is working to rid itself of violent extremist members. In addition to strengthening the chain of command to detect and remove extremist members from its ranks, the military could also empower military family members to intervene.

A Memorial Day Like No Other

Although Memorial Day is and should be dedicated to our fallen military personnel and veterans, this year, especially, we are reminded that service to the country comes in many forms.

Infrastructure Investment for Veterans

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs provides health care to over 9 million veterans through its network of medical facilities. Improved infrastructure could help attract veterans to care, boost provider morale, and ensure high-quality care.

Human Intelligence: The Key to Ferreting Out Extremism in the Ranks

The U.S. military is fighting extremism—including white supremacists and violent anti-government radicals—in its own ranks. De-radicalized former extremists can provide crucial first-hand intelligence on extremist groups' recruiting tactics.

Access to Mobile Technology Could Help to Alleviate LA's Homelessness Crisis

The vast majority of people experiencing homelessness have cell phones, which often serve as their lifelines. Providing technological supports, such as Wi-Fi access and opportunities to charge devices, could result in better access to social services and, ultimately, better quality of life and outcomes.

Comparing Suicide Rates: Making an Apples to Apples Comparison

As the national suicide rate continues to rise, an increasing number of stakeholders are looking within their own communities and asking: “Do we have a suicide problem?” It's a difficult question to answer.

How Can the U.S. Do a Better Job of Keeping Kids Safe at School?

Many proposals to improve school safety promote the use of technology, such as metal detectors and video cameras. How effective are these devices? The evidence is mixed.

Checklist of Best Practices Developed to Guide Development of Suicide Prevention Campaigns

Is your crisis line’s suicide-prevention communications effort working well enough? What should you be doing differently? Some help is available through a checklist published earlier this year.

Is America's Crisis 'System' in Crisis?

The United States has made life-saving progress on crisis support for veterans. Now other suicide prevention services need help. Progress made by the VA could provide a blueprint for improving suicide prevention services for all Americans.

Veterans Day 2015: Three Priorities for Preventing Veteran Suicide (And It's Not All on the VA!)

The suicide rate among veterans is three times that of nonveterans. Additional research and policy intervention in three important areas could help ensure that fewer veterans die at their own hands.

Helping the Most Vulnerable: Q&A with Rajeev Ramchand

Rajeev Ramchand discusses drug abuse, suicide, and how research can make a difference for society's most vulnerable.

Veterans Battle Mental Health Issues After Iraq and Afghanistan

Researchers have made great progress capturing the consequences of coping with injuries sustained in the theater of war, but the emerging picture is shadowed in grays. A series of recent findings presents a bleak portrait of the cost of modern war to service members, their families, and their health care providers.

Ask Me Anything: Rajeev Ramchand on Military Caregivers

With military caregivers quickly becoming a topic of national discussion, RAND's Rajeev Ramchand hosted an

Four Ways to Help Military Caregivers

As momentum continues to build, stakeholders across the board should keep in mind four broad recommendations for how to help military caregivers.

A World Without America's Military Caregivers

A world without military caregivers would be a harsher one for all, particularly for those who have served. Military caregivers' sacrifices improve the lives of wounded, ill, and injured service members and veterans, more of whom would suffer without them.

Spotlight on America's Hidden Heroes: Military Caregivers

Despite military caregivers' vital contributions, little is known about their numbers, the burden of caregiving that they shoulder, or the resources that exist to support them. To shed light on these

They Also Serve: Understanding the Needs of Military Caregivers

Military families play a critical role in supporting U.S. servicemembers during deployment and afterwards. Equally vital but often less visible is the role played by those who care for the servicemembers who return with disabling injuries or illnesses and require long-term support beyond what the formal health care system provides.

Research Is a Fundamental Component of Suicide Prevention

While our research has taught us many things about suicide prevention we think additional research is critically needed in two areas, writes Rajeev Ramchand. The first is gun control. The second area is the quality of behavioral health care available to those who need it.

A National Strategy for Supporting Military Caregivers

The act of caring for a veteran takes a physical, mental, and economic toll on caregivers and their families. Giving caregivers the skills and resources they need to cope and thrive should be as much a priority as giving veterans medical care.

Teen Employment May Not Always Be a Boon for At-Risk Youth

For all teens, and especially those who have already experienced problems related to alcohol and drug use, it is essential to monitor the quality of work experiences and keep in mind that some work environments might increase risk for substance use.

Supporting Families Affected by Military Suicide Should Be a Priority for All

While many of these families fight for honor and respect from the DoD or support from the VA, the comfort that they need will not be provided by either institution, nor should it be. Rather, it is up to us—as their neighbors, coworkers, teachers, and students—to shower these families with the love and support they need and deserve, writes Rajeev Ramchand.

Parents: That Summer Job Could Be Teaching Your Youngster to Smoke

Workplaces across the world that rely on a teenage workforce, like supermarkets and fast food restaurants, need to do a better job protecting young people from starting to smoke, writes Rajeev Ramchand.

Preventing Military Suicides Is a Nationwide Effort

The military is experiencing a higher number of suicides than it has ever experienced at this time before. RAND research has a number of recommendations to prevent suicide among military personnel based.

In Memoriam

Not only would the delivery of quality behavioral care prevent suicides, but it would also aid in the recovery of the nearly 20 percent of service members with post-traumatic stress disorder or depression, writes Rajeev Ramchand.

Infographic

Alcohol and Substance Use Among U.S. Veterans

Nearly one-quarter of all veterans report binge drinking within the past month. Veterans who served after 9/11 have higher rates of all substance use behaviors, including alcohol and drug use disorders, than those who served exclusively before 9/11.

Infographic

Prevalence of Past-Year Serious Psychological Distress Among U.S. Veterans

Certain subgroups of veterans — including female veterans, veterans aged 18–34, multiracial veterans, and bisexual veterans — experienced past-year serious psychological distress at rates significantly higher than the overall veteran population.

Report

A Summary of Veteran-Related Statistics

Researchers summarize estimates and trends related to U.S. veterans' demographics, mental health, and labor market outcomes, based on analysis of public nationally representative datasets.

Infographic

Trends in U.S. Veteran Demographics

Veterans who served after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks are younger, more diverse in terms of sex and race/ethnicity, and more educated than earlier cohorts of veterans. The overall number of U.S. veterans has been steadily declining.

Infographic

U.S. Veteran Labor Market Trends

Veterans, regardless of race/ethnicity, have lower unemployment rates than nonveterans and are more likely to work in the public sector. The top industries for veteran employment are public administration and manufacturing.

Testimony

Improving Treatment Outcomes for Veterans with Mental Health Conditions: Strengthening the Evidence Base for and Considering Barriers to Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies

Testimony presented before the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, Subcommittee on Health on November 14, 2023.

Report

Syndromic Surveillance 2.0: Emerging Global Surveillance Strategies for Infectious Disease Epidemics

To aid in the detection of emerging epidemics and pandemics, researchers investigate the effectiveness of the newest syndromic surveillance strategies — those designed to identify outbreaks before clinical data are available.

Report

Prevalence of Veteran Support for Extremist Groups and Extremist Beliefs: Results from a Nationally Representative Survey of the U.S. Veteran Community

The authors conducted a nationally representative survey of the U.S. veteran community to examine the prevalence of support for specific extremist groups and ideologies, including support for political violence.

Journal Article

Upstream Suicide Prevention in the U.S. Army: Noncommissioned Officers' Perspectives

This study sheds light on key gaps in training for Army NCOs who are relied upon for detecting and addressing suicide risk factors when they first arise in soldiers.

Report

"Conditions for Postservice Success Are Set Well Before the Uniform Comes Off": Proceedings from a Roundtable on How Military Service Affects Veterans' Posttransition Outcomes

The RAND Epstein Family Veterans Policy Research Institute hosted subject-matter experts for a roundtable discussion focusing on how military experience shapes veterans' transitions to civilian life.

Report

The Science of Gun Policy: A Critical Synthesis of Research Evidence on the Effects of Gun Policies in the United States, Third Edition

This report, now in its third edition, synthesizes the available scientific evidence for the effects of various firearm policies on firearm deaths, violent crime, the gun industry, defensive gun use, and other outcomes.

Commentary

Psychedelics and Veterans' Mental Health: The Evolving Legal and Policy Landscape in the United States

The federal government must consider how best to support veterans and their health care providers as the legal and policy landscape surrounding the therapeutic use of psychedelics continues to evolve.

Journal Article

Suicidality Among Sexual Minority Adults: Gender, Age, and Race/Ethnicity Differences

This study examined past-year suicide thoughts, plans, and attempts among adult respondents to the 2015–2019 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (pooled N=191,954).

Journal Article

Mental Health Service Use Among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Adults Who Report Having Attempted Suicide

This study estimated mental health service use among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) adults in the United States who reported having made a suicide attempt.

Journal Article

Examining Inhalant Use Among Sexual Minority Adults in a National Sample: Drug-Specific Risks or Generalized Risk?

This study compared use of 12 specific inhalants among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) adults relative to heterosexual adults in a national sample.

Report

Personal Firearm Storage in the United States: Recent Estimates, Patterns, and Effectiveness of Interventions

This report describes what is meant by safe firearm storage, provides estimates of U.S. gun owners' storage practices from representative surveys, and presents research on the effectiveness of interventions to change such practices.

Journal Article

Military Service Branch Differences in Alcohol Use, Tobacco Use, Prescription Drug Misuse, and Mental Health Conditions

Using data from the 2015 Department of Defense Health Related Behaviors Survey, we estimated service branch-specific prevalences of substance use and mental health outcomes.

Report

Improving Care for Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury Across the Lifespan

This report presents findings from a study designed to identify the long-term outcomes of traumatic brain injury for veterans, the future needs of this population, effective treatments, and the availability of community-based resources.

Research Brief

Strategies to Improve Long-Term Outcomes for Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury

This brief describes findings from a study on the long-term outcomes of traumatic brain injury for veterans, the future needs of this population, effective treatments, and the availability of community-based resources.

Journal Article

Disparities in Use/Misuse of Specific Illicit and Prescription Drugs Among Sexual Minority Adults in a National Sample

We examined disparities by sexual identity and sex for 8 illicit and prescription drugs using 2015-2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health data.

Commentary

What Prevention and Treatment of Substance Use Disorder Can Tell Us About Addressing Violent Extremism

In this Perspective, the authors examine similarities between violent extremism and substance dependence in terms of social and psychological causes, behaviors, and opportunities for prevention and intervention.

Journal Article

Health Disparities in the U.S. Gulf Coast: The Interplay of Environmental Disaster, Material Loss, and Residential Segregation

We study the interrelationships between health, residential segregation, and disaster-related material losses (income loss, job loss, economic/property damages) due to the worst ever man-made disaster of its kind, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Report

Twenty-Six Veterans: A Longitudinal Case Study of Veterans Experiencing Homelessness in Los Angeles, 2019–2020

In this report, the authors describe a longitudinal study conducted in 2019/2020 that recruited 26 veterans experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles and followed them monthly for a year to learn about their experiences finding housing.

Report

American Perspectives on Veterans: A July–September 2021 American Life Panel Survey About Americans' Support for Veterans' Benefits and Services

Data from the RAND American Life Panel collected in July-September 2021 reveal what benefits and services Americans think the U.S. government should provide to veterans and how much they would be willing to pay in taxes to fund this support.

Testimony

Suicide Prevention for U.S. Veterans: The Need for Data-Driven Solutions

Testimony presented before the House Veterans' Affairs Committee on September 22, 2021.

Commentary

Suicide Among Veterans: Veterans' Issues in Focus

Suicide is a major public health challenge that disproportionately affects service members and veterans. There are opportunities to improve risk identification, evaluation, support, and treatments and interventions for at-risk veterans.

Research Brief

What Do Former Extremists and Their Families Say About Radicalization and Deradicalization in America?

Violent extremism is an evolving, ongoing threat in the United States. This project describes personal accounts of white supremacists, Islamic extremists, and their family members about joining extremist groups and, in some cases, deradicalizing.

Report

Contemporary Issues in Gun Policy: Essays from the RAND Gun Policy in America Project

This report, part of RAND's Gun Policy in America project, presents essays that synthesize the available scientific data on topics pertinent to firearm policy in the United States, such as mass shootings and firearm and ammunition taxes.

Report

Violent Extremism in America: Interviews with Former Extremists and Their Families on Radicalization and Deradicalization

Terrorism and ideologically inspired violence are persistent and serious threats to U.S. national security. This report uses interviews to explore why and how 32 individuals joined extremist organizations and how some of them exited these groups.

Journal Article

Co-occurring Alcohol and Mental Health Problems in the Military: Prevalence, Disparities, and Service Utilization

This study examined the prevalence of co-occurring alcohol and mental health (MH) problems, perceived MH service need, and MH service utilization among active duty service members.

Journal Article

Advancing Community Resilience Research and Practice: Moving from "Me" to "We" to "3d"

In this article, we provide a rationale for moving research and practice towards an adaptive systems framework, drawing on the cascading challenges that Gulf of Mexico coastal communities have endured since the 2010 Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill disaster.

Journal Article

Fishing Households, Social Support, and Depression After the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill

This study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on mental health in the aftermath of disasters by examining depressive symptoms among residents of the U.S. Gulf Coast region six years after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Journal Article

Oil Spill Disruption and Problem Drinking: Assessing the Impact of Religious Context Among Gulf Coast Residents

This study employs multilevel analysis to examine the impact of religious context on alcohol misuse among individuals impacted by the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill.

Journal Article

Persistent Risk-Related Worry as a Function of Recalled Exposure to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Prior Trauma

This study examined the nature and predictors of worry about ongoing impacts of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon (DH) oil spill reported by Gulf of Mexico coastal residents.

Journal Article

Research in Brief: Comprehensive Suicide Prevention in Law Enforcement

Any institution-from workplaces to schools to correctional settings to law enforcement agencies-seeking to prevent suicide must take a comprehensive approach. Science suggests that there are five components that define what such an approach looks like.

Report

Building Community Resilience to Large Oil Spills: Findings and Recommendations from a Synthesis of Research on the Mental Health, Economic, and Community Distress Associated with the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill

In this report, the authors explore how communities, government officials, nongovernmental organizations, businesses, and scientists can build community resilience to large oil spills.

Journal Article

Natech or Natural? An Analysis of Hazard Perceptions, Institutional Trust, and Future Storm Worry Following Hurricane Harvey

The present study examined the relationships hazard perceptions had with institutional trust and future storm worry following Hurricane Harvey.

Report

The Science of Gun Policy: A Critical Synthesis of Research Evidence on the Effects of Gun Policies in the United States, Second Edition

This report, the second edition of an earlier work, synthesizes the available scientific evidence for the effects of various firearm policies on firearm deaths, violent crime, the gun industry, defensive gun use, and other outcomes.

Report

Comparing the Army's Suicide Rate to the General U.S. Population: Identifying Suitable Characteristics, Data Sources, and Analytic Approaches

Researchers investigate how accounting for demographic factors beyond age and gender (race/ethnicity, time, marital status, and educational attainment) affects suicide rate differences between soldiers and the general U.S. population.

Journal Article

Disaster Experience, Social Capitals, and Behavioral Health

The goal of this study is to assess the relationships between different forms of social capital (community engagement, trust, and social support) on different behavioral health indicators (depression, anxiety, and alcohol misuse).

Journal Article

Reaching Vulnerable Populations in the Disaster-Prone US Gulf Coast: Communicating Across the Crisis Lifecycle

This article discusses results from a 2016 survey of Gulf Coast residents to explore potential vulnerabilities and resilience-building capacities in the region.

Tool

Database of Literature on Oil Spills and Public Health

Overview that describes the literature search CRCG undertook and the database developed with a goal of assessing the impact of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and the health, social, and economic wellbeing of Gulf Coast communities.

Journal Article

Exposure to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, Associated Resource Loss, and Long-Term Mental and Behavioral Outcomes

The aim of this study was to assess the long-term mental and behavioral health outcomes of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill of residents in the Gulf Coast and to identify populations that may be particularly vulnerable to future disasters.

Journal Article

Behavioral Health of Gulf Coast Residents 6 Years After the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: The Role of Trauma History

The study emphasizes the importance of measuring and considering not only the index event in disaster-related mental health work, but also other potentially traumatic exposures.

Tool

Survey of Trauma, Resilience, and Opportunity Among Neighborhoods in the Gulf (STRONG) Codebook

This report describes the measures in the Survey of Trauma, Resilience, and Opportunity Among Neighborhoods in the Gulf (STRONG), which assesses the health and well-being of Gulf Coast residents five years after the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Report

2015 Department of Defense Health Related Behaviors Survey (HRBS)

In this report, RAND researchers review survey methods, sample demographics, key findings, and policy implications from the 2015 Health Related Behaviors Survey of active-duty service members.

Research Brief

2015 Health Related Behaviors Survey: Sexual Behavior and Health Among U.S. Active-Duty Service Members

The 2015 Health Related Behaviors Survey sought information on the health, health-related behaviors, and well-being of active-duty service members. This brief reviews results for sexual behavior and health.

Research Brief

2015 Health Related Behaviors Survey: Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Among U.S. Active-Duty Service Members

The 2015 Health Related Behaviors Survey sought information on the health, health-related behaviors, and well-being of active-duty service members. This brief reviews results for health promotion and disease prevention.

Research Brief

2015 Health Related Behaviors Survey: Mental and Emotional Health Among U.S. Active-Duty Service Members

The 2015 Health Related Behaviors Survey sought information on the health, health-related behaviors, and well-being of active-duty service members. This brief reviews results for mental and emotional health.

Research Brief

2015 Health Related Behaviors Survey: Summary Findings and Policy Implications

The 2015 Health Related Behaviors Survey sought information on the health, health-related behaviors, and well-being of active-duty service members. This brief summarizes results for broad topics of the survey, such as substance use and mental health.

Research Brief

2015 Health Related Behaviors Survey: Sexual Orientation, Transgender Identity, and Health Among U.S. Active-Duty Service Members

The 2015 Health Related Behaviors Survey sought information on the health, health-related behaviors, and well-being of active-duty service members. This brief reviews results for sexual orientation, transgender identity, and related health.

Research Brief

2015 Health Related Behaviors Survey: Substance Use Among U.S. Active-Duty Service Members

The 2015 Health Related Behaviors Survey sought information on the health, health-related behaviors, and well-being of active-duty service members. This brief reviews results for substance use, particularly use of alcohol, tobacco, and medication.

Research Brief

2015 Health Related Behaviors Survey: Physical Health and Functional Limitations Among U.S. Active-Duty Service Members

The 2015 Health Related Behaviors Survey sought information on the health, health-related behaviors, and well-being of active-duty service members. This brief reviews results for physical health and functional limitations.

Research Brief

2015 Health Releated Behaviors Survey: Deployment Experiences and Health Among U.S. Active-Duty Service Members

The 2015 Health Related Behaviors Survey sought information on the health, health-related behaviors, and well-being of active-duty service members. This brief reviews results for recent deployment experiences and health.

Infographic

Are They Living Healthy? How Well Are Soldiers Taking Care of Themselves

The 2015 Health Related Behaviors Survey sought information on the health, health-related behaviors, and well-being of active-duty service members. This infographic reports key findings across the Army.

Infographic

Are They Living Healthy? How Well Are Coast Guardsmen Taking Care of Themselves

The 2015 Health Related Behaviors Survey sought information on the health, health-related behaviors, and well-being of active-duty service members. This infographic reports key findings across the Coast Guard.

Infographic

Are They Living Healthy? How Well Are Sailors Taking Care of Themselves

The 2015 Health Related Behaviors Survey sought information on the health, health-related behaviors, and well-being of active-duty service members. This infographic reports key findings across the Navy.

Infographic

Are They Living Healthy? How Well Are Marines Taking Care of Themselves

The 2015 Health Related Behaviors Survey sought information on the health, health-related behaviors, and well-being of active-duty service members. This infographic reports key findings across the Marine Corps.

Infographic

Are They Living Healthy? How Well Are Service Members Taking Care of Themselves

The 2015 Health Related Behaviors Survey sought information on the health, health-related behaviors, and well-being of active-duty service members. This infographic reports key findings across the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Coast Guard.

Infographic

Are They Living Healthy? How Well Are Airmen Taking Care of Themselves

The 2015 Health Related Behaviors Survey sought information on the health, health-related behaviors, and well-being of active-duty service members. This infographic reports key findings across the Air Force.

Testimony

Suicide Prevention in California: Three Goals for Developing a Statewide Plan

Testimony presented before the California Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission on May 24, 2018.

Journal Article

Suicide Prevention in U.S. Law Enforcement Agencies: A National Survey of Current Practices

Many U.S. law enforcement agencies are taking steps to promote officer wellness and prevent suicide despite a weak evidence base for many of the specific approaches being used.

Report

The Science of Gun Policy: A Critical Synthesis of Research Evidence on the Effects of Gun Policies in the United States

This report synthesizes the available scientific evidence on the effects of various firearm policies on firearm deaths, violent crime, the gun industry, participation in hunting and sport shooting, and other outcomes.

Journal Article

A Systematic Review of Peer-Supported Interventions for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

A systematic review that categorized and assessed the effects of peer interventions - by peer role, intervention type, and outcomes - suggests ways to involve peers that have improved health and wellness.

Research Brief

Improving Support for America's Hidden Heroes: A Military Caregiver Research Blueprint

In this brief, RAND researchers document the construction and elements of a research blueprint to inform future efforts to improve support for military and veteran caregivers.

Report

Improving Support for America's Hidden Heroes: A Research Blueprint

In this report, RAND researchers document the construction and elements of a research blueprint to inform future efforts to improve support for military and veteran caregivers.

Journal Article

Expanding Suicide Crisis Services to Text and Chat: Responders' Perspectives of the Differences Between Communication Modalities

Internet chat and text messaging offer anonymity and increased access to suicide hotline callers, but they are not yet a replacement for telephone crisis support services.

Journal Article

Mental Health Service Utilization Among Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Questioning or Queer College Students

College students are at high risk for mental health problems, yet many do not receive treatment even when services are available. Treatment needs may be even higher among sexual minority students, but little is known about how these students differ from heterosexual peers in terms of mental health needs and service utilization.

Testimony

Preventing Veteran Suicide: The Critical Role of Community-Based Prevention

Testimony presented before the Senate Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies on April 27, 2017.

Journal Article

Best Practices for Suicide Prevention Messaging and Evaluating California's "Know the Signs" Media Campaign

California's "Know the Signs" media campaign for suicide prevention is consistent with what is known about best practices, though evidence in this field is still nascent.

Journal Article

Detecting Changes in Newspaper Reporting of Suicide After a Statewide Social Marketing Campaign

In conclusion and similar to many past evaluations, we find no evidence that the KTS campaign was effective in changing the way in which suicides are reported on in California had any effect.

Journal Article

Opportunities to Intervene? "Warning Signs" for Suicide in the Days Before Dying

Psychological autopsy studies are optimally poised to provide evidence about warning signs for suicide.

Report

Development and Pilot Test of the RAND Program Evaluation Toolkit for Countering Violent Extremism

The RAND Program Evaluation Toolkit for Countering Violent Extremism helps programs assess their activities and identify needed improvements. This report is a companion to the toolkit and provides background on its development and testing.

Tool

RAND Program Evaluation Toolkit for Countering Violent Extremism

The RAND Program Evaluation Toolkit for Countering Violent Extremism uses checklists, worksheets, and templates to help programs assess whether their activities have met their goals and identify needed improvements.

Tool

RAND's Fidelity Monitoring Protocol for Suicide Prevention Workshops in California

RAND developed a fidelity monitoring protocol composed of adherence and competence measures based on the Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) for the California Mental Health Services Authority.

Journal Article

Developing Adaptive Interventions for Adolescent Substance Use Treatment Settings: Protocol of an Observational, Mixed-Methods Project

Adaptive interventions (AIs) - sequences of decision rules for altering treatment based on an individual's needs - would benefit substance abuse treatment for adolescents.

Journal Article

Suicide Risk Among Women Veterans in Distress: Perspectives of Responders on the Veterans Crisis Line

Actions to help women veterans, and possibly curtail suicide among them, could include addressing military sexual trauma, adding questions about deliberate self-harm to suicide risk assessments, and reducing access to lethal suicide means.

Research Brief

Can Technology Make Schools Safer?

Key technology needs to improve safety in U.S. schools include two-way communication between teachers and emergency responders and "all-in-one" applications to integrate school safety policies, procedures, training, and alerts for staff and parents.

Journal Article

Characteristics and Proximal Outcomes of Calls Made to Suicide Crisis Hotlines in California: Variability Across Centers

Because individuals calling a suicide crisis hotline generally cannot choose the center or responder who will take their call, it is critical to promote quality across all call centers and minimize variability in operating procedures.

Report

Suicide Prevention Hotlines in California: Diversity in Services, Structure, and Organization and the Potential Challenges Ahead

This report evaluates landscape in which suicide prevention hotlines operate, focusing on California but with nationwide implications, and provides recommendations to ensure that callers at risk of suicide seek and receive the help they need.

Research Brief

How Military Families Respond Before, During and After Deployment: Findings from the RAND Deployment Life Study

This overview of the findings from the RAND Deployment Life Study describes the effects of deployment on marital relationships, family environment, psychological and behavioral health, child well-being, and military integration.

Report

The Role of Technology in Improving K–12 School Safety

The report categorizes school safety technologies, summarizes research on school violence, presents six case studies of innovative technologies, and summarizes experts' views of technologies and safety problems and their rankings of technology needs.

Report

The Deployment Life Study: Longitudinal Analysis of Military Families Across the Deployment Cycle

In 2009, RAND launched the Deployment Life Study to study military family readiness. This report presents analyses on marital relationships, family environment, psychological and behavioral health, child well-being, and military integration.

Report

Can Access to Data Prevent Army Suicides? Identifying Optimal Response Strategies for Army Leaders

The U.S. Army is developing a system to inform leaders of individual- and unit-level suicide risk factors and to support prevention and intervention activities. RAND convened an expert panel to identify necessary data and recommend leader actions.

Journal Article

Factors That Influence Chaplains' Suicide Intervention Behavior in the Army

Army chaplains are more likely to refer soldiers at risk of suicide to behavioral health care, but the causes of their reluctance to refer need further investigation.

Journal Article

The Influence of Training, Reluctance, Efficacy, and Stigma on Suicide Intervention Behavior Among NCOs in the Army and Marine Corps

We used structural equation modeling on survey responses from 1184 Army soldiers and 796 marines to estimate the relationships between training, intervention efficacy, reluctance, and mental health stigma on NCO intervention behaviors.

Journal Article

Implementing Evidence-Based Suicide Prevention Training in Communities: Implications for Quality Improvement

Suicide prevention trainings are implemented to equip the public's ability to intervene with those who are at-risk, but their implementation is not often monitored for quality.

Research Brief

California's Statewide Mental Health Prevention and Early Intervention Initiatives Show Promising Early Results, But Sustained Investment Is Needed

Summarizes findings from an evaluation of a set of California initiatives to help reduce mental health stigma and discrimination, prevent suicide, and improve student mental health.

Tool

RAND's Silent Monitoring Protocol for Assessing Suicide Crisis Line Call Content and Quality

Report describes the methods for developing and testing a silent monitoring protocol for California suicide crisis call centers to evaluate call content and quality, document staff strengths and weaknesses, and identify areas for further training.

Journal Article

Noncommissioned Officers' Perspectives on Identifying, Caring For, and Referring Soldiers and Marines at Risk of Suicide

Noncommissioned officers (NCOs) in the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps were surveyed to identify their ability and willingness to identify, intervene on behalf of, and refer fellow soldiers and marines at risk of suicide.

Report

Adults Newly Exposed to "Know the Signs" Campaign Report Greater Gains in Confidence to Intervene with Those Who Might Be at Risk for Suicide Than Those Unexposed to the Campaign

Presents results of a one-year follow-up to a survey on Know the Signs, a California mass media suicide prevention campaign, and examines the effect of campaign exposure on respondents' confidence to intervene with someone at risk for suicide.

Report

Analysis of the Benefits and Costs of CalMHSA's Investment in Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)

Estimates the possible reductions in suicide attempts resulting from investment in ASIST and estimates the financial return to Californians from reduced medical costs associated with suicide attempts and increased earnings from each life saved.

Research Brief

Should California Continue to Invest in Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)? ASIST Could Save Lives and Wages and Reduce Medical Costs

Estimates the possible reductions in suicide attempts and deaths resulting from investment in ASIST and the financial return to Californians from reduced medical costs and increased earnings that would result from averted suicide attempts and deaths.

Journal Article

Prevalence Of, Risk Factors For, and Consequences of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Other Mental Health Problems in Military Populations Deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan

Factors such as deployment conditions and social support during and after deployments could help identify, prevent, or mitigate the risk of PTSD among military populations in future conflicts.

Report

Suicide Postvention in the Department of Defense: Evidence, Policies and Procedures, and Perspectives of Loss Survivors

The scientific evidence on suicide postvention, guidance for other organizations, and the perspectives of military suicide loss survivors provide potential insights for U.S. Department of Defense policies and programs to respond to suicides.

Report

Gatekeeper Training for Suicide Prevention: A Theoretical Model and Review of the Empirical Literature

In the context of rising rates of suicide among U.S. military personnel, this report reviews the literature on gatekeeper models of suicide prevention to better understand what is known about the effectiveness of gatekeepers and gatekeeper training.

Report

Evaluation of California's Statewide Mental Health Prevention and Early Intervention Programs: Summary of Key Year 2 Findings

This report summarizes key findings from the second year of an evaluation of the California Mental Health Services Authority's statewide prevention and early intervention programs.

Journal Article

Provision of Mental Health Services as a Quality Indicator for Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment Facilities

The study tested whether adolescents receiving substance abuse treatment at facilities offering full or partial mental health services have better 12-month substance use and mental health outcomes than youths at facilities with no mental health services.

Report

"Know the Signs" Suicide Prevention Media Campaign Is Aligned with Best Practices and Highly Regarded by Experts

Reports the findings of an evaluation by a panel of experts on the extent to which a suicide prevention media campaign in California is aligned with best practices in the field.

Testimony

Hidden Heroes: Caregivers to America's Ill, Injured, and Wounded Service Members and Veterans

Testimony presented before the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, Subcommittee on Health on December 3, 2014.

Report

Developing a Research Strategy for Suicide Prevention in the Department of Defense: Status of Current Research, Prioritizing Areas of Need, and Recommendations for Moving Forward

To support U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) efforts to create a strategic plan for suicide prevention research, a RAND study examined the current research, DoD's strategic needs, and ways to narrow the research-practice gap in disseminating findings.

Journal Article

The Effects of Purchasing Alcohol and Marijuana Among Adolescents At-Risk for Future Substance Use

Among high-risk youth, those who may be at increased risk for adverse alcohol and other drug (AOD) use outcomes may benefit from targeted prevention efforts; how youth acquire AOD may provide an objective means of identifying youth at elevated risk.

Report

Language Differences in California Adults' Exposure to Suicide Prevention Messaging, Confidence in One's Ability to Intervene with Someone at Risk, and Resource Preferences

Assesses the results of a statewide survey to determine language differences among California adults' exposure to suicide prevention messaging, confidence to intervene with someone at risk of suicide, and resource preferences.

Report

A Case Study Evaluating the Fidelity of Suicide Prevention Workshops in California

Reports on an evaluation of California suicide intervention training workshops to provide evidence that training is delivered with fidelity and adherence to the workshop's design, as well as with high quality.

Report

Recommendations for Sustaining California's Statewide Mental Health Prevention and Early Intervention Programs

Provides preliminary advice about which of the California Mental Health Services Authority's Prevention and Early Intervention activities seem most valuable to sustain or, in some cases, enhance.

Research Brief

Suicide Rates in California: Trends and Implications for Prevention and Early Intervention Programs

This fact sheet summarizes the first-year evaluation of California's Suicide Prevention Initiative.

Report

Adults Exposed to "Know the Signs" Are More Confident Intervening with Those At Risk for Suicide

Report evaluates the effects of a California mass media program that aims to prepare more Californians to prevent suicide by encouraging them to know the warning signs, offer support to persons at risk, and reach out to local resources.

Report

Racial and Ethnic Differences in Exposure to Suicide Prevention Messaging, Confidence in One's Ability to Intervene with Someone at Risk, and Resource Preferences

Report assesses differences in racial and ethnic groups' exposure to suicide prevention messaging, preferences for suicide crisis services, and confidence in their ability to intervene with persons at risk of suicide.

Report

Where Would California Adults Prefer to Get Help If They Were Feeling Suicidal?

Report assesses the types of resources, ranging from face-to-face interactions with mental health professionals to texting a crisis line, that adults in California prefer to utilize for suicidal thoughts or feelings.

Infographic

Smoke Alarm: Clocking in Could Prove Hazardous to a Teen's Health

A teen who starts working for pay while still in school may be more than 8 times as likely to report tobacco use than peers who don't start working while in school.

Report

Key Facts and Statistics from the RAND Military Caregivers Study

This presentation slide deck offers key facts and statistics from the RAND Military Caregivers Study.

Periodical

RAND Review: Vol. 38, No. 1, Spring 2014

Feature stories discuss the implications of climate change for the Colorado River Basin and the Sierra Nevada, the burdens borne by military caregivers, the drawbacks of joint aircraft programs, and growing inequalities across the European Union.

Report

Hidden Heroes: America's Military Caregivers — Executive Summary

This summary distills a longer report, Hidden Heroes: America's Military Caregivers. It describes the magnitude of military caregiving in the United States, identifies gaps in support services, and offers recommendations.

Report

Hidden Heroes: America's Military Caregivers

This report summarizes a study designed to describe the magnitude of military caregiving in the United States today, as well as to identify gaps in the array of programs, policies, and initiatives designed to support military caregivers.

Research Brief

Military Caregivers: Who are They? And Who Is Supporting Them?

Presents an overview of findings and recommendations from RAND's sweeping study of military caregivers and their support environment.

Research Brief

Military Caregivers in the Workplace

Presents findings from RAND's sweeping study of military caregivers on the effect of military caregiving on employment and the workplace.

Research Brief

Supporting Military Caregivers: The Role of Health Providers

Examines how health care providers can best support military caregivers based on RAND's sweeping study of this population and their support environment.

Research Brief

Supporting Military Caregivers: Options for Congress

Presents options Congress might take to support military caregivers based on RAND's sweeping study of this population and their support environment.

Research Brief

Support Resources for Military Caregivers

Provides an overview of support resources for military caregivers based on RAND's sweeping study of this population and their support environment.

Research Brief

What Has the Suicide Prevention Initiative Done So Far? Year 1 Findings

This fact sheet summarizes the first-year evaluation of California's Suicide Prevention Initiative.

Journal Article

Effectiveness of Treatment for Adolescent Substance Use: Is Biological Drug Testing Sufficient?

The purpose of this study was to compare the relative effectiveness of three treatment modalities for adolescent substance use: biological drug screening (BDS), Motivational Enhancement Therapy-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (MET/CBT5), and BDS combined with MET/CBT5, relative to no treatment.

Journal Article

Estimating the Causal Effects of Cumulative Treatment Episodes for Adolescents Using Marginal Structural Models and Inverse Probability of Treatment Weighting

Substance use treatment is rarely a one-time event for individuals with substance use disorders. Sustained reductions in substance use and its related symptoms may result from multiple treatment episodes.

Report

Evaluating the California Mental Health Services Authority's Suicide Prevention Initiative: Year 1 Findings

Summarizes first-year findings of an ongoing evaluation of a California program aimed at developing statewide capacities and implementing interventions to prevent suicide.

Report

Development and Pilot Test of the RAND Suicide Prevention Program Evaluation Toolkit

The RAND Suicide Prevention Program Evaluation Toolkit draws from the scientific literature to guide evaluations of suicide prevention programs. This report is a companion to the toolkit and provides background on its development and testing.

Tool

RAND Suicide Prevention Program Evaluation Toolkit

The RAND Suicide Prevention Program Evaluation Toolkit translates scientific research on suicide prevention to help program staff assess whether their programs produce beneficial effects and identify needed improvements.

Journal Article

Assessing the Generalizability of the CSAT-sponsored GAIN Dataset: Are the CSAT Sites Representative of Adolescent Treatment Programs in the U.S.?

CSAT-funded programs had higher rates of comprehensive mental health assessments, discharge planning, HIV, STD and TB testing, and HIV/AIDS education and support.

Journal Article

A Psychometric Assessment of the GAIN Individual Severity Scale (GAIN-GISS) and Short Screeners (GAIN-SS) Among Adolescents in Outpatient Treatment Programs

The authors' investigation used intake data from 6,909 adolescents presenting to outpatient substance abuse treatment facilities in the United States.

Testimony

Suicide Prevention in California: Strategies from Science

Testimony presented before the California State Senate Select Committee on Mental Health on September 24, 2013.

Journal Article

A Tutorial on Propensity Score Estimation for Multiple Treatments Using Generalized Boosted Models

The use of propensity scores to control for pretreatment imbalances on observed variables in non-randomized or observational studies examining the causal effects of treatments or interventions has become widespread over the past decade.

Report

Military Caregivers: Cornerstones of Support for Our Nation's Wounded, Ill, and Injured Veterans

RAND and the Elizabeth Dole Foundation lay the groundwork to inform policy and program development relative to the needs of military caregivers that often differ from the needs of the general caregiving population.

Journal Article

The Effects of Employment Among Adolescents At-Risk for Future Substance Use

This paper explores the association between work intensity, alcohol and/or other drug (AOD) use, and related risk factors and consequences among an at-risk youth sample that has received a first-time AOD offense.

Journal Article

Risk Behaviors Among HIV-positive Gay and Bisexual Men at Party-Oriented Vacations

HIV-positive men who have sex with men attending party-oriented vacation events engaged in higher rates of illegal drug use and sexual risk than HIV-negative men.

Journal Article

Drug Use Among Gay and Bisexual Men at Weekend Dance Parties: The Role of Intentions and Perceptions of Peers' Behaviors

Substance use is high among gay and bisexual men attending weekend dance events, yet little research has investigated motivations for drug use and contextual factors influencing use in these settings.

Report

Interventions to Prevent Suicide: A Literature Review to Guide Evaluation of California's Mental Health Prevention and Early Intervention Initiative

Prevention and early intervention initiatives aim to reduce the incidence of suicide and other mental health problems, and the authors evaluate these initiatives by reviewing suicide prevention (SP) literature to learn about SP program effectiveness and methodologies.

Journal Article

Workplace Strategies Are Needed to Protect Youth Across the Globe from Starting to Smoke

There is a strong association between adolescents' beginning to work and their beginning to smoke. Thus the workplace may be an appropriate venue for antismoking interventions targeting youth.

Periodical

RAND Review: Vol. 36, No. 1, Spring 2012

Stories cover Iran's nuclear threat, social security in Mexico, programs for veterans, crime costs, U.S. efforts in Afghanistan, the health insurance mandate, legal defense, marijuana legalization, global education, and Louisiana's coastal planning.

Journal Article

Assessing the Sensitivity of Treatment Effect Estimates to Differential Follow-Up Rates: Implications for Translational Research

The authors developed a new tool for assessing the sensitivity of findings on treatment effectiveness to differential follow-up rates in the two treatment conditions being compared.

Journal Article

Examining Moderated Effects of Additional Adolescent Substance Use Treatment: Structural Nested Mean Model Estimation Using Inverse-Weighted Regression with Residuals

This article considers the problem of examining causal effect moderation using observational, longitudinal data in which treatment, candidate moderators, and putative confounders are time-varying.

Journal Article

The Effectiveness of Community-Based Delivery of an Evidence-Based Treatment for Adolescent Substance Use

This study evaluates the effectiveness of motivational enhancement therapy/cognitive behavioral therapy–5 (MET/CBT-5) when delivered in community practice settings relative to standard community-based adolescent treatment.

Research Brief

The War Within: Suicide Prevention in the U.S. Military

The increasing number of suicides is causing concern in the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). Suicide-prevention programs in DoD and across the services have some (but not all) of the characteristics of comprehensive programs.

Report

The War Within: Preventing Suicide in the U.S. Military

The increase in suicides among military personnel has raised concern. This book reviews suicide epidemiology in the military, catalogs military suicide-prevention activities, and recommends relevant best practices.

Journal Article

Associations Between Abstinence in Adolescence and Economic and Educational Outcomes Seven Years Later Among High-Risk Youth

This study found that abstinence from all substance use for 12 months among a sample of 13-17 year olds was associated with positive long-term educational and economic outcomes relative to use of any substance.

Journal Article

PartyIntents: A Portal Survey to Assess Gay and Bisexual Men's Risk Behaviors at Weekend Parties

Portal survey methods can be used to anonymously survey gay and bisexual men about HIV-risk behaviors before and after a weekend party–oriented vacation.

Journal Article

Using a Cross-Study Design to Assess the Efficacy of Motivational Enhancement Therapy-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy 5 (MET/CBT5) in Treating Adolescents with Cannabis-Related Disorders

Youth with marijuana problems who received a research-based treatment (motivational enhancement therapy plus cognitive behavioral therapy [MET/CBT5]) had better outcomes than similar youth treated in community-based programs.

Research Brief

Studies' Estimates of PTSD Prevalence Rates for Returning Service Members Vary Widely

Summarizes analyses of existing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) studies for war zone veterans, finding that the prevalence estimates vary widely and are linked to the use of different PTSD diagnostic definitions and divergent study samples.

Journal Article

Disparate Prevalence Estimates of PTSD Among Service Members Who Served in Iraq and Afghanistan: Possible Explanations

Combat exposure is the only correlate consistently associated with PTSD.

Journal Article

How Perceptions of Mortality and HIV Morbidity Relate to Substance Abuse Problems and Risky Sexual Behaviors Among Former Juvenile Offenders

Youth who think they are likely to get HIV are at greater risk for later substance abuse problems and risky sexual behaviors, but this perception doesn't cause them to reduce their substance use and change their behavior.

Report

The Effects of Substance Use on Workplace Injuries

This paper examines associations between substance use and occupational injuries and reviews related literature and policies.

Journal Article

Alcohol Abuse and Illegal Drug Use Among Los Angeles County Trauma Patients: Prevalence and Evaluation of Single Item Screener

This research studied alcohol abuse and illegal substance use patterns in a large cohort of urban trauma patients, identified correlates of alcohol abuse, and assessed the utility of a single item binge-drinking screener for identifying patients with past

Journal Article

Seven-year Life Outcomes of Adolescent Offenders in Los Angeles

The authors examined important life outcomes for adolescent offenders to describe how they were faring in young adulthood.

Journal Article

Seven Years Later: Developmental Transitions and Delinquent Behavior for Male Adolescents Who Received Long-Term Substance Treatment

Few studies have applied the life course perspective to the study of drug use, a noticeable omission in the field.

Journal Article

Substance Use and Delinquency Among Fifth Graders Who Have Jobs

Working for pay is associated with substance use and delinquency among older adolescents, although information is scant about younger youth who work. This study investigates associations between self-reports of having a job and substance use and delinquent behaviors in a sample of U.S. 5th graders.

Draft

Invisible Wounds: Predicting the Immediate and Long-Term Consequences of Mental Health Problems in Veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom

Reviews literature on post-traumatic stress disorder, major depression, and traumatic brain injury and discusses the likely effects of these conditions for veterans that have served in Afghanistan and Iraq and their families.

Report

Invisible Wounds of War: Psychological and Cognitive Injuries, Their Consequences, and Services to Assist Recovery

A comprehensive study of the post-deployment health-related needs associated with post-traumatic stress disorder, major depression, and traumatic brain injury among servicemembers returning from Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

Research Brief

Teens Who Work Are More Likely to Smoke

This research brief describes a study that found that working for pay in and around the 10th grade is associated with increased smoking among teens.

Journal Article

Posttraumatic Distress and Physical Functioning: A Longitudinal Study of Injured Survivors of Community Violence

Cross-lagged relationships between posttraumatic distress symptoms and physical functioning are reciprocally related following traumatic injury. Interventions targeting physical recovery may influence subsequent mental health, and vice versa.

Journal Article

A Prospective Investigation of Suicide Ideation, Attempts, and Use of Mental Health Service Among Adolescents in Substance Abuse Treatment

This study examined suicide ideation, attempts, and subsequent mental health service among a sample of 948 youth from substance abuse treatment facilities across the United States.

Journal Article

The Effect of Working for Pay on Adolescent Tobacco Use

There is a strong link between working for pay and adolescent tobacco use.

Journal Article

Smoking Rates Among Adolescents in Substance Abuse Treatment Programs

Substance abuse treatment programs often do not target smoking, despite its long-term health risks

Journal Article

Racial Differences in Marijuana-Users' Risk of Arrest in the United States

A recent study of arrest data show that African Americans are 2.5 times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession offences than Whites.

Journal Article

How Criminal System Racial Disparities May Translate Into Health Disparities

Disadvantaged racial and ethnic minorities in the U.S. are strikingly over-represented in the juvenile justice and adult criminal justice systems.