Public Messaging to Increase Treatment Seeking for Veterans at Risk for Suicide

NCT04784663 | Completed

• 2 other identifiers: SDR 19-354HX003130-01A2
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 355
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The risk for suicide increases by nearly 50% in the first year that service members transition from the military to civilian life underscoring the need for effective strategies to facilitate help seeking among Veterans vulnerable to self-directed violence. Yet despite a great need for treatment, more than half of returning Veterans at risk for suicide do not initiate mental health services. VA has embarked on the regular use of communication campaigns as part of a public health approach designed to reach the larger Veteran population with messages promoting help seeking. However, what types of messages effectively change beliefs and behaviors for at-risk Veterans resistant to seek treatment is unclear. The main objective of this study is to develop and test the use of public messaging to increase treatment seeking among Veterans at risk for suicide and resistant to seek mental health care following separation from military service. This represents the first study to systematically develop public messaging strategies for populations at risk for suicide.

Conditions

Mental Health; Suicide

Keywords

communication; Veterans; public health; treatment engagement

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• change in treatment initiation from baseline to 1- and 2-month follow-up

  change in treatment initiation (yes/no)

  baseline, 1-month and 2-month follow up

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• change in beliefs about mental health and treatment seeking from baseline to 1- and 2-month follow-up

  baseline, 1-month and 2-month follow up

• change in intentions to seek treatment from baseline to 1- and 2-month follow-up

  baseline, 1-month and 2-month follow up

• change in perceived treatment barriers from baseline to 1- and 2-month follow-up

  baseline, 1-month and 2-month follow up

Study Arms (2)

Message Exposure

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants exposed to 4 study videos over a one-month period and complete telephone-based assessments at baseline, 1- and 2-month follow up. Study videos are delivered by study's mobile app downloaded to participants' own Smartphone.

Behavioral: Messaging

Wait List Control

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

While wait-listed, participants will receive one push notification each week thanking them for participation, informing them that they will receive messages in the near future or reminding them of the length of the study. Telephone-based assessments are completed at baseline, 1- and 2-month follow up. Push notifications are delivered by study's mobile app downloaded to participants' own Smartphone.

Other: Wait list control

Interventions

Messaging BEHAVIORAL

Four brief video messages, each approximately 1.5 minutes in length, focused on facilitating treatment seeking by addressing barriers and improving attitudes. Intervention delivered to participant by study mobile app downloaded to participants' own smartphone.

Message Exposure

Wait list control OTHER

one push notification each week thanking individuals for participation, informing them that they will receive messages in the near future or reminding them of the length of the study.

Wait List Control

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 89 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• U.S. Veteran that separated from military service in the past 12 months (any discharge type);
• \>18 years old;
• experiencing suicidal ideation;
• low intent to seek help;
• capable of understanding the goals of the study;
• willing and able to provide verbal consent; and 7) smartphone ownership and willing to download/use study mobile app

You may not qualify if:

• currently (or in the past 12 months) in formal mental health treatment services;
• deemed impaired during eligibility screening; and 3) currently institutionalized

Sponsors & Collaborators

• VA Office of Research and Development: lead

Study Sites (1)

VA Finger Lakes Healthcare System, Canandaigua, NY

Canandaigua, New York, 14424-1159, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Psychological Well-Being; Suicide; Communication

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Personal Satisfaction; Behavior; Self-Injurious Behavior; Behavioral Symptoms

Study Officials

• Elizabeth Karras-Pilato, PhD

  VA Finger Lakes Healthcare System, Canandaigua, NY

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: FED
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: All participants will complete the consent process and baseline assessment by telephone with an RA and are randomized to receive the intervention at either baseline (T1), 1-month (T2) or 2-month follow up (T3). Exposure to intervention occurs over a 1-month period.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 1, 2021
• First Posted: March 5, 2021
• Study Start: November 1, 2022
• Primary Completion: June 30, 2025
• Study Completion: September 30, 2025
• Last Updated: October 14, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-10

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)