VA NY Harbor Healthcare System

VISN 3 Mental Health Providers with Dr. Marsha Linehan

During the week of January 23, the Veterans Integrated Service Network 3 (VISN3) gathered mental health providers throughout the Network to attend a series of training sessions at VA’s Manhattan Campus to help them as they treat patients who are at high risk for suicide.

The interactive program was given by Dr. Marsha Linehan, a clinical psychologist who achieved notoriety for her ground-breaking work creating a new form of psychotherapy called dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) to help those who struggle with chronic suicidal ideations, including people diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. Prior to the advent of DBT, borderline personality disorder was considered untreatable by many clinical experts. In comparison to all other clinical interventions for suicidal behaviors, DBT is the only treatment that has been shown to effectively reduce suicidal behavior in multiple trials across several independent research sites. DBT is also cost-effective in comparison to both standard treatment and community treatments delivered by expert therapists.

Dr. Linehan is a Professor of Psychology and Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Washington and Director of the Behavioral Research and Therapy Clinics. She has received several awards recognizing her clinical and research contributions to the study and treatment of suicidal behaviors.

“Dr. Linehan is one of the most prominent mental health professionals in the world today. She has been hailed as a true mental health hero by clinicians and a source of inspiration by her clients," said Dr. Christie Jackson, Director of the PTSD Clinic at VA’s Manhattan campus. "We will never know just how many lives have, quite literally, been saved by her."

Dr. Linehan is currently working to develop models for transferring treatments from the research academy to the clinical community.

"We invited her to speak with our clinicians as we work together to bring DBT to the Veterans Administration nationwide, beginning with our VISN3,” Dr. Jackson said.