Center for Mental Healthcare & Outcomes Research (CeMHOR)

Central Arkansas Veterans Hlthcare Sys, North Little Rock AR

Investigators

Abstract

The Center for Mental Healthcare & Outcomes Research (CeMHOR) is an HSR&D Center of Innovation whose mission is to optimize health and well-being of Veterans through innovative research to improve access to and engagement in evidence-based care for mental health and substance use disorders and prevent suicide. CeMHOR Strategic Goals are to: 1) Advance knowledge and address gaps in access to and engagement in evidence-based care for mental health and substance use disorders (Focus Area 1); 2) Develop, test, and implement suicide prevention strategies (Focus Area 2); 3) Advance innovative research outside of focus areas; 4) Strengthen strategic partnerships and collaborations with other centers and investigators to address VA priorities; 5) Provide training, mentoring, and career development in mental health services research and implementation science; and 6) Engage Veterans and other stakeholders in CeMHOR research. Key CeMHOR, based at the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, partners include the Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, the Primary Care-Mental Health Integration Initiative, the Office of Rural Health, the VISN 16 Mental Health Product Line, the Behavioral Health QUERI, the South Central MIRECC, and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Dr. Richard Owen, a psychiatrist, has been the Director of CeMHOR for 19 years; Dr. Teresa Hudson, a health services researcher and pharmacist, has been associate director for 11 years. CeMHOR investigators possess a diverse background including psychiatrists, psychologists, pharmacists, social workers, anthropologists, a demographer, a medical sociologist, and an epidemiologist; their passion for improved care for Veterans unites them to investigate the most effective and impactful methods of advancing health services research and implementing improved care for all Veterans. CeMHOR has two primary focus areas: 1) improving access to and engagement in evidence-based care for Veterans with mental health and substance use disorders; and 2) suicide prevention. These are top priorities for VA, the Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, and HSR&D. Research outside these focus areas includes: 1) research to decrease risks of opioid misuse/abuse and increase treatment of opioid use disorders; and 2) additional implementation science research. All CeMHOR research is planned, designed, and conducted with widespread implementation in mind. CeMHOR expertise in rural health and community engagement and our location in a largely rural VISN also informs our work. CeMHOR investigators have pioneered development, testing, and implementation of interventions to improve access to and engagement mental health care, with an emphasis on improving access and care for rural Veterans. Multiple studies demonstrated the effectiveness of virtual care management for mental disorders, enabling rural Veterans to receive evidence-based mental health treatments in Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs). These care models have been implemented widely in VA settings and translated by CeMHOR investigators to Federally-Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), which also serve Veterans in rural areas. CeMHOR investigators have also worked in community settings to improve access, forming relationships with community clergy and other local leaders, community colleges, and counselors to increase awareness of VA and community mental health prevention and treatment resources for Veterans. Suicide prevention is a relatively new focus of CeMHOR research; nevertheless, CeMHOR investigators have substantial expertise in this area, as well as strong relationships with operational partners and researchers at other centers. Investigators are studying implementation of Caring Contacts, an evidence-based suicide prevention strategy, and leading evaluation of two high-priority initiatives: implementation of REACH VET; a national suicide prevention effort; and the peer support/community outreach pilot program mandated in the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans (SAV) Act.