Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough talks mental health, AI in Rhode Island visit

"At VA, we're here for you," said McDonough, who along with Rhode Island Rep. Seth Magaziner and Sen. Jack Reed, sat down for a one-on-one interview with NBC 10 News.

Top priorities include research that improves lives, and suicide prevention that saves them.

Of the 1,200 veterans seen each day at the Providence VA, one-third are for mental health visits, he said.

"Four hundred veterans a day," said McDonough. "Veterans, when they're in our care, veterans when they're getting their veterans benefits are much less likely to die by suicide."

And since studies show veterans are more likely to take their own lives -- and possibly others -- with a gun, there's a move to strengthen gun laws.

"There should be national laws and national funding," said Magaziner.

And a ban on assault weapons, added Reed.

We used to have one.

"In 1994, we passed an assault weapons ban and for 10 years we had a ban on selling, with very few exceptions, assault weapons, and we didn't have the kind of mass shootings we've seen," said Reed. "We've done it and we should do it again."

Increased funding to improve VA facilities is also a congressional priority.

"It's good facilities that help. But the real key, I think, and it goes back to your question about suicide, is that one of the major factor is a sense of isolation, a sense that there's no place to go," said Magaziner.

The idea is to make the VA a safe place for all, and that includes looking to artificial intelligence, focused on addressing VA health care worker burnout -- an initiative called AI Tech Sprint -- with safeguards in place.

"Some of them are tired and they're risking burning out, so AI, in part, presents an interesting opportunity to say to our providers, 'Hey, here are some innovative new capabilities that will help you not only with quality outcomes for veterans, but also better quality of life for you as well,'" said McDonough.

They want all veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange, burn pits and other toxic substances to know that they may be entitled to additional benefits.

The bottom line is reach out.

"We're here for you if you're in crisis. We're here for you even if you just want to develop a relationship with us," said McDonough.

John Loughlin, Public Affairs Officer

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Justyn Charon, Public Affairs Specialist

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