Peer Mentoring, Camaraderie, and Support (PMCS) of Southern New Jersey: Suicide Prevention using Human Experience and Social Determinants of Health

Suicide prevention is a high priority for Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Recent data show an increase in suicide rates, especially among Veterans that had not used VHA health services and nor had received any VHA benefits. Meanwhile, data collected for the past two decades reveals a decline in suicide rates among Veterans who were recent VHA users with mental health or substance use disorders. The objective of the Peer Mentoring, Camaraderie, and Support (PMCS) Program was to explore novel ways to reengage and reintegrate Veterans into their earned VA healthcare benefits, and examine the effectiveness of this new initiative by providing excellent human experience and social support to mitigate Veteran suicide in South New Jersey. The PMCS name is taken from an acronym that is used by the United States Army referring to “Preventative Maintenance Checks and Services,” which includes tasks that are completed on a weekly, monthly, or annual basis to ensure the overall combat readiness of military equipment. Thus, PMCS closely resonates with Veterans, but this time the focus is not on equipment but rather on their overall wellness and mental health readiness. This case study addresses recruitment, selection, onboarding, and orientation methods, as well as Veterans experience journey with emphasis on the Veterans Social Determinants of Health goals. The results demonstrate significant improvements across multiple clinical and psychosocial measures. Notably, there was a 77.8% reduction in suicidality (C-SSRS), a 35.2% decrease in depression symptoms (PHQ-9), a 23.6% decrease in PTSD symptoms, and a 22.7% reduction in anxiety symptoms (GAD-7). In parallel, participants showed a 33.7% increase in perceived interpersonal support and a 26.8% improvement in psychosocial functioning. As such, PCMS model offers a potential promise for suicide mitigation.