Cohen Veterans Network Institute for Quality (CVN-IQ) uses research, innovation, and collaboration to advance the field of mental health. Launched in 2022, CVN-IQ is focused on four areas of interest: highlighting the mental health needs of post-9/11 veterans and families; improving mental health outcomes; optimizing mental health care delivery; and identifying strengths, needs, and challenges within and across military communities.
Discover CVN-IQ’s diverse projects and initiatives focused on improving treatment outcomes for veterans, service members and their families while enhancing their quality of life.
Advancing Firearm Safety Conversations in Military Communities
CVN-IQ conducted research to better understand how firearm safety and secure storage conversations can be approached with veterans, service members, and military families. Supported by a grant from Face the Fight, the project explored which communication strategies were most acceptable to military-connected individuals and translated those findings into practical resources for clinicians, organizations, decision-makers, and others working to advance suicide prevention efforts. Select the tabs below to explore the research, tools, and recommendations developed to support firearm safety conversations with military-connected populations
Firearm Safety Research Summary
Optimizing Firearm Secure Storage Messaging for Military and Veteran Communities. Drawing on quantitative and qualitative feedback from Cohen Clinic clients, researchers developed and tested firearm secure storage messages with military-connected populations. The findings examine message acceptability, participant preferences, and the factors that influence willingness to engage in firearm safety conversations, offering insights to help inform suicide prevention and lethal means safety efforts.
Read the Report
Firearm Safety Clinician Toolkit
The Ask Anyway: How to Have Conversations About Firearm Safety Toolkit translates the research into practical guidance for clinicians and other professionals serving military-connected populations. The toolkit provides adaptable, evidence-based strategies to support firearm safety and secure storage conversations with confidence, cultural responsiveness, and respect for individual experiences.
Explore the Toolkit
Firearm Safety Policy Brief
Advancing Firearm Safety Communication in Military Communities. Building on CVN-IQ’s research, this resource offers recommendations for mental health leaders, military- and veteran-serving organizations, and policymakers. It highlights opportunities to normalize firearm safety conversations, expand access to resources, and support the voluntary adoption of secure storage practices. The recommendations demonstrate how evidence-informed communication can strengthen suicide prevention efforts, promote family safety, and support the well-being of military-connected communities.
Read the Policy Brief
Addressing Critical Gaps in Suicide Prevention for Military-Affiliated Women
Released in May 2025, the new report, “Identifying Gaps in Lethal Means Safety Counseling Research and Practice for Military-Affiliated Women,” critically assesses the current state of lethal means safety research and practice for military-affiliated women. The analysis, conducted by CVN-IQ with support from Face the Fight, provides actionable recommendations to enhance suicide prevention efforts for the nearly 2.5 million women who have served or are currently serving in the U.S. military.
Research: Enhancing Veteran & Military Suicide Prevention Efforts
In September 2024, CVN-IQ unveiled new research on client experiences in suicide-focused mental health care, identifying key risk predictors among veterans and service members. Supported by a grant from Face the Fight, this research offers significant insights to enhance clinical practices and training in suicide prevention.
New Insights into Suicide Prevention for Veterans and Military Members
Overview of new research to enhance suicide prevention efforts in our veteran and military communities.
Client Perspectives on Suicide Risk Management
Qualitative interviews conducted to examine client perspectives on suicide risk management processes across CVN.
Predictors of Elevated Suicide Risk
Study analyzed electronic health record data to identify predictors of clinically elevated suicide risk among veterans and active duty clients.
Social Drivers of Health
Comprehensive analysis of the unique social-environmental challenges faced by minoritized clients across Cohen Clinics.
Mental Health Benchmarks In the US: An Unheeded Call to Action
A critical update describing challenges to this important effort to promote accountability, transparency, and parity across the behavioral health field.
Visual Abstract: Evaluating Suicide Risk Stratification in Outpatient Settings
Study provides new insights into how clinicians assess and manage military/veteran suicide risk.
CVN Suicide Risk Stratification Training Package for Clinicians
Training designed to help mental health providers enhance their clinical skills around understanding and managing suicide risk.
Establishing Benchmarks for Outpatient Mental Health Care
White paper providing recommendations on how to best advance the use of benchmarks and MBC throughout the field of mental health.
National Leadership Summit on Outpatient Mental Health Benchmarks
CVN-IQ convened leading mental health experts to improve access, transparency, efficacy, and equity across mental health care.
Explore CVN-IQ’s peer-reviewed research, which is helping to advance the field of mental health.
Perspectives of military-affiliated women on lethal means safety: A systematic review
Improving PTSD Support for First Responders
Comparison of Telehealth and In-Person Mental Health Care in Military Veterans and Active-Duty Service Members
Evaluating Suicide Risk Stratification in Outpatient Settings: A Vignette-Based Approach
Treatment Outcomes After Screening Positive For Suicidal Ideation In United States Military Veterans
Implications On Professional Practice And Provider Support
“Collaboration is at the heart of CVN-IQ as we partner across disciplines to solve problems and generate new ideas and methods to improve treatment outcomes for veterans, service members and their families. The opportunities for CVN-IQ are limitless.”
–CVN-IQ Director, Dr. David Linkh
CVN Data Insights highlight timely research and findings from CVN-IQ and what they mean for veterans, service members and their families.
What Makes Suicide Safety Planning Work?
Using PHQ-9 Item 9 for Suicide Risk Management in Military Populations
What CVN Data Reveals About Couples Therapy for Military-Connected Couples
Social Determinants of Health and Suicide Risk in Veterans
What Matters Most to Military-Affiliated Clients
Research Opportunities
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