In the United States (U.S.), death by suicide is a notable public health concern and a particular problem in the U.S. Veteran population. Furthermore, U.S. Veterans who live in rural areas may be at even greater risk for suicide than their urban counterparts. These risks may be concentrated during times of transition in their treatment such as after emergency room discharge. Multiple interventions have been developed to target suicide risk during periods of transition but there is limited evidence regarding their efficacy in preventing suicide. Furthermore, a key contributor to suicide risk may include limited or no engagement in care. Therefore, developing interventions to support engagement in treatment may be effective ways to help mitigate suicide risk and promote participation in care. This clinical trial studies an intervention that is designed to help support treatment engagement during periods of high risk in Veterans who live in rural areas. The trial will recruit Veterans from various treatment settings such as the emergency room, residential drug treatment programs, primary care mental health clinics, and/or inpatient psychiatric units and follow them for a period of six months. The trial evaluates not only the effect of the intervention on suicidal behavior but also measures of engagement.
In the United States (U.S.), suicide is a major public health concern. U.S. Veterans who live in rural areas may be at even higher risk for suicide than their urban counterparts. Available evidence indicates that suicide risk in rural U.S. Veterans is most concentrated during high-risk care transition scenarios such as discharge from an emergency room. There is limited knowledge about effective interventions to address suicide risk. There is a critical need to develop targeted interventions that address suicide risk during high-risk care transition periods. To be effective, these interventions should address key contributors to suicide risk such as reduced engagement in treatment. This clinical trial evaluates the effect of a suicide prevention intervention to support treatment engagement during high risk transition periods such as discharge from an emergency room.