Suicide Prevention After Community Care Discharge

Part of paid clinical trials in White River Junction, Vermont.

Sponsor
VA Office of Research and Development
Study ID
NCT06596044
Status
Recruiting
Apply to this trial

Conditions

  • Suicide Prevention

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
18 Years - N/A
Healthy Volunteers
Not accepted

Interventions

  • VA BIC — BEHAVIORAL
    VA BIC is a suicide prevention strategy that is designed to meet the needs of Veterans who receive acute psychiatric treatment. VA BIC can be delivered by a trained mental health provider (e.g., mental health nurse, social worker, psychologist, psychiatrist). VA BIC includes two synergistic elements to support the patient after a mental health discharge. The elements include a brief educational session, where the patient receives a one-on-one, one-hour, personalized educational session on suicide prevention. The session incorporates aspects of motivational interviewing. The patient then receives 7 regular follow-up contacts that are conducted by the interventionist. Here the interventionist monitors symptoms, assesses treatment adherence, reviews the safety plan, and assists the patient with engaging in steps to promote their well-being. The sessions incorporate aspects of motivational interviewing. Of note patients in this arm will also receive standard care.
  • Standard Care — OTHER
    Regardless of study assignment, all patients will have access to standard care provided upon mental health discharge in non-VA settings. VA staff will also follow standard procedures for mitigating risk including placing Veterans on high risk list when clinically appropriate.

Study Details

The study is of high importance to Veterans' health because it will study a suicide prevention intervention in a Veteran population that is at high risk of suicide but has not been a specific focus of the Veteran Affairs' (VA's) suicide prevention efforts. Specifically, a growing number of Veterans are now receiving acute mental health treatment in VA-purchased settings (commonly referred to as Community Care). While these Veterans are at high risk of suicide after discharge, very little is known about how to prevent suicide in these Veterans. This study will directly address this problem by looking at whether a promising suicide prevention strategy called the VA Brief Intervention and Contact Program (VA BIC) can decrease the risk of suicide in Veterans after they are discharged from a non-VA mental health treatment setting. The proposed research is highly pertinent to the VA's top clinical priority-to prevent suicide in Veterans.

Key Dates

Start date
Oct 1, 2025
Status verified
Apr 2026
Primary completion
Jun 30, 2028
Completion
Sep 30, 2028

Study Design

Enrollment
120 participants (estimated)
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION

Arms

  • Experimental: VA BIC
    Patients randomized to VA BIC will receive the VA BIC intervention plus standard care
  • Other: Standard Care
    Patients randomized to the control arm will receive standard care alone.

Primary Outcome Measure

Suicidal Ideation: The Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation (BSS) [ Time Frame: Baseline to 9 months post-baseline ]

Central Contacts

Locations (1)

FacilityCityStateZIPSite coordinators
White River Junction VA Medical Center, White River Junction, VTWhite River JunctionVermont05001-3833
Natalie Riblet, MD MPH
[email protected]
802-295-9363
Natalie Riblet, MD MPH (PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR)

Find similar trials in White River Junction, VT

By research site
White River Junction VA Medical Center, White River Junction, VT· White River Junction, VT

Related Studies