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A Novel Peer-Delivered Recovery-Focused Suicide Prevention Intervention for Veterans With Serious Mental Illness

Who can join

As published by the study on ClinicalTrials.gov. "Not stated" means the study hasn't said — ask the study team.

Age
18 Years and older
Sex
All sexes
Healthy volunteers
Not accepted
Compensation
Not stated

Other requirements are listed under Eligibility below. Only the study team can confirm whether you can join.

What to expect

No one can promise a trial will help you personally — that is what the research is trying to find out.

What participation involves

Not stated in the study description — ask the study team about visits and procedures.

Compensation
Not stated
  • Study-related exams and procedures are typically provided at no cost. This is how many trials work in general — confirm the details for this study with the study team.
  • Participants are monitored closely by the research team throughout the study.
  • Some participants may receive access to an investigational treatment, which is still being studied.
  • Your participation helps researchers learn whether this approach could help future patients.

About this study

In plain language

This study tests SUPPORT, a suicide prevention program led by a trained peer. It is for Veterans with serious mental illness who have had recent thoughts of suicide or a recent suicide attempt. The program helps Veterans plan their recovery and learn ways to remember their safety plan.

Suicide is a major public health concern, particularly among Veterans with serious mental illness (SMI, i.e., psychotic disorders or bipolar disorders). Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) is a well-established evidence-based practice for those with SMI that centers on identifying warning signs of mental illness, developing wellness tools for functional independence, planning for day-to-day effective living within one's community, and building an action plan to create a valued life worth living. This proposed study will refine and pilot SUicide Prevention by Peers Offering Recovery Tactics (SUPPORT), a novel integrated recovery program that is an adaptation of peer-delivered WRAP for Veterans with SMI. In SUPPORT, a Peer Specialist leads a Veteran at increased risk for suicide through recovery planning that is tailored to the Veteran's suicidal experiences with cognitive learning strategies to enhance safety plan recall and improve functioning.

Compensation is read from the study's own description and may be missing — always confirm with the study team.

Eligibility

Who can join

  • Veterans: Have active thoughts of killing yourself in the past month, a suicide attempt in the past 3 months, or both.
  • Veterans: Have schizophrenia, another psychotic disorder, a mood disorder with psychosis, or bipolar disorder. Psychosis can affect what a person believes or senses is real.
  • Veterans: Pass a brief check showing you can understand the study and agree to take part.
  • Peer Specialists: Be certified and work in mental health care at VA San Diego Healthcare System.
  • Peer Specialists: Have 2–3 years of work experience after certification.
  • Peer Specialists: Want to be trained in SUPPORT.
  • Peer Specialists: Allow study staff to discuss your ability to take part with your direct clinical supervisor.
  • Peer Specialists: Have your supervisor's approval and work time for an 8-hour training, weekly 1-hour group supervision, and at least one SUPPORT Veteran case at a time.

Who can't join

  • Veterans: Cannot complete the study tests and surveys.
  • Veterans: Are currently under the influence of alcohol or drugs and need immediate detox care to safely stop using them.
  • Veterans: Have an outpatient care plan specifically for live-in substance use treatment, rather than mental health treatment.
  • Veterans: Are about to be admitted to a hospital for mental health care.

Simplified for readability. The official criteria below are what the study team uses.

Official eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria: Veteran Inclusion Criteria: 1. Veterans who report present suicidal ideation (i.e., Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) \> 2 ("Active thoughts of killing oneself") in past 1 month and/or a suicide attempt in the prior 3 months as identified by the C-SSRS 2. Current SMI diagnosis (i.e., schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, mood disorders with psychotic features, bipolar disorders) 3. Capable of informed consent via the University of California San Diego Brief Assessment of Capacity to Consent (UBACC) Peer Specialist Inclusion Criteria: 1. Certified Peer Specialist employed at VA San Diego Healthcare System (VASDHS) in the Mental Health Care Line (individuals must demonstrate competency in basic suicide screening and referral procedures to be certified) 2. 2-3 years of experience post certification as a Certified Peer Specialist 3. Interest in being trained in SUPPORT 4. Provide verbal or written consent for the research staff to discuss ability to participate in the study with the Peer Specialist's direct clinical supervisor 5. Direct clinical supervisor agreement to allow the Peer Specialist to participate. This includes the Peer Specialist's direct clinical supervisor agreement to allow the Peer Specialist time as part of their current scope of practice to 1) participate in the full day (8-hour) SUPPORT training, 2) participate in weekly 1-hour group supervision for the duration of the Peer Specialist's time in the study, and 3) take on a case load of at least one SUPPORT Veteran at a given time. Exclusion Criteria: Veteran Exclusion Criteria: 1. Cannot complete the assessment battery 2. Current intoxication requiring immediate detoxification or outpatient plan directed specifically to residential substance use disorder (not mental health) services 3. Imminent psychiatric hospitalization

Study sites (1)

CA