Pilot the Use of VA Make the Connection Campaign to Facilitate Help Seeking Among Vulnerable Veterans

Evaluation of the VA's Public Awareness Campaigns

This pilot study seeks to determine if exposure to the Make the Connection campaign messages developed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is associated with changes in mental-health related outcomes, specifically: (1) psychosocial determinants that drive help seeking behaviors (knowledge, attitudes and intentions); and (2) perceived barriers to seeking care. Participants are randomly assigned to message exposure or control (no exposure) conditions. Data from this project will inform mental health education and outreach efforts targeted towards Veterans experiencing mental health concerns.

Inclusion Criteria:

Veterans of all gender/sex, race/ethnicities that in the past 6 months:

• utilized health services in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA);
• screened positive on the PHQ-2, AUDIT-C or PC-PTSD and/or received a mental health diagnosis as documented in VA medical record
• Fluent in English language
• Capable of understanding goals of study
• Capable of providing verbal consent
• Willing and able to download/use study Android mobile application for duration of study

Exclusion Criteria:

• Not a U.S. Veteran who has utilized VA health care in the past 6 months
• Did not screen positive and/or was not diagnosed with mental health disorder
• Determined cognitively impaired and unable to provide verbal consent
• Determined to be in high distress during recruitment screening
• Currently institutionalized (i.e., hospitalized; incarcerated, etc.)
• Unwilling and/or unable to download and use use the study app