Attention A T users. To access the menus on this page please perform the following steps. 1. Please switch auto forms mode to off. 2. Hit enter to expand a main menu option (Health, Benefits, etc). 3. To enter and activate the submenu links, hit the down arrow. You will now be able to tab or arrow up or down through the submenu options to access/activate the submenu links.

MIRECC / CoE

Menu
Menu
Quick Links
Veterans Crisis Line Badge
My healthevet badge
 

Milestones

ASCEND Study Banner

Current Project Status


Data collection for the second national wave of ASCEND is complete. Wave 1 and Wave 2 Surveillance Reports are available. We are disseminating ASCEND findings and preparing for Wave 3.

The ASCEND project is ongoing and relies on your participation and input as it plans each step. With your assistance, we will ultimately:

  • Better understand factors that increase both risk and resilience for suicide
  • Improve existing suicide prevention programs
  • Create new, tailored suicide prevention programs for Veterans both in VA health care and in local communities
  • Inform public policy on both community and national levels

ASCEND Program Timeline: The Development Phase took place between FY19-22 and consisted of study design, initial data collection, and stakeholder engagement. Key milestones of the Development Phase included: FY19-20: Study Startup and Survey Development; FY21: Pilot Study (December 2020 - February 2021; N = 567); FY22: National Wave 1 (W1) Data Collection (February 2022 – July 2022; N= 17,949). The Surveillance Phase began in FY23 and remains ongoing with biennial data collection, dissemination, and stakeholder engagement. Key milestones of the Surveillance Phase include: FY23-25: W1 Analysis; FY24-26: W1 Dissemination; FY24-25: National Wave 2 (W2) Data Collection (September 2024 – January 2025; N = 15,243); FY25-26: W2 Analysis; FY26-27: W2 Dissemination; FY27: Planned: National Wave 3 (W3) Data Collection; FY28: Planned: W3 Analysis and Mortality Data Repository linkage.

Click or tap on image to enlarge

Milestone #1

  1. We collected pilot data from 567 Veterans (December 2020 through February 2021).
  2. Findings from this pilot study were used to help us improve our study methods and the survey questions that we used in Wave 1 of the national survey.

Milestone #2

  1. We collected Wave 1 data from 17,949 Veterans (February through July 2022). Thank you to all the Veterans who participated!
  2. Analysis and dissemination of findings from Wave 1 are available, please visit the results tab for details.

Milestone #3

  1. We collected Wave 2 data from 15,243 Veterans (September 2024 through January 2025). Thank you to all the Veterans who participated!
  2. Analysis and dissemination of findings from Wave 2 are available, please visit the results tab for details.

Next Milestones

  1. We will continue data analysis and dissemination of findings from Waves 1 and 2.
  2. In FY27, we plan to collect Wave 3 Data and link with the Mortality Data Repository (MDR).
  3. In FY28, we plan to analyze and disseminate findings from Wave 3.

COMIRB # 20-0719 / PI: Hoffmire

Last Updated 28 April 2026

return to top go