VHA Handbook 1160.06, Inpatient Mental Health Services

In September 2013, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) published a handbook describing requirements for the provision of inpatient mental health care within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) VHA Mental Health Services (MHS). Topics addressed include: definitions; scope; responsibilities of VHA directors, offices, and VISNS; principles for improving inpatient mental health care; safety and the environment of care; sexual assault and harassment prevention and response; seclusion and restraint; recovery-oriented clinical care; program elements; involuntary mental health treatment; mental health advance directives; staffing ; workload and productivity; and references . . .