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DOE OSTI2023

VA EDH Data Curation Documentation (FY24-Q1)

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) places the health and well-being of our nation’s veterans as its top priority. VA is dedicated to offering timely access to high-quality, evidence-based mental health care that meets the needs of veterans and supports their reintegration into society. One of our core missions is to prevent suicide among veterans through innovative approaches and resources. Health outcomes, including suicide, are typically influenced by both genetics and environmental factors, such as air quality, transportation access, food availability, homelessness, and more. Mental health outcomes are associated with various stressors across socioeconomic, economic, and physical environments. Analyzing the connections between these stressors, covariates, and health outcomes relies on standardized data, which can be integrated into models like the VA’s Recovery Engagement and Coordination for Health, Veterans Enhanced Treatment (REACH VET). The World Health Organization (WHO) defines Environmental Determinants of Health (EDH) as factors like clean air, stable climate, water and sanitation, chemical safety, radiation protection, safe workplaces, sustainable agriculture, healthy urban environments, and nature preservation, all of which are crucial for good health.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2023

VA EDH Data Curation Documentation FY23-Q4

The health and well-being of the Nation’s men and women who have served in uniform is the highest priority for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). VA is committed to providing timely access to high-quality, recovery-oriented, evidence-based mental health care that anticipates and responds to Veterans’ needs and supports the reintegration of returning service members into their communities. Since its creation, the VA has been working to eliminate suicide among all veterans by developing and implementing innovative suicide prevention approaches and resources. Health outcomes, such as suicide, are typically modeled as a function of genetics and environment, where environment refers to factors beyond medical, e.g., air quality, access to transportation and food, homelessness status, etc. Mental health outcomes for each individual are considered to be associated with multiple stressors that fall under a variety of categories, including socioeconomic, economic, and physical environments. Understanding the relationships between these stressors, covariates, and health outcomes requires curated, standardized data that can be input into the VA’s Recovery Engagement and Coordination for Health, Veterans Enhanced Treatment (REACH VET) or other health outcomes model. Environmental Determinants of Health (EDH), as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), refer to clean air, stable climate, adequate water, sanitation and hygiene, safe use of chemicals, protection from radiation, healthy and safe workplaces, sound agricultural practices, health-supportive cities and built environments, and a preserved nature, which are all prerequisites for good health.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗