Motivational Interviewing to Address Suicidal Ideation for Veterans at High Risk for Suicide

Launched by VA OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT · Feb 16, 2022

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is looking at a special counseling approach called Motivational Interviewing to Address Suicidal Ideation (MI-SI-R) to see if it can help prevent suicide attempts and reduce thoughts of suicide among veterans at high risk. The study will include 470 veterans who are either currently in a hospital, referred by a suicide prevention specialist, or identified as being at high risk through other means. Participants must be at least 18 years old, speak and read English, and understand the study to give their consent.

If you are eligible and choose to participate, you will receive either this new counseling method or standard care that is already available. The goal is to find out which approach is more effective in supporting veterans who are struggling with suicidal thoughts. It's important to note that individuals with certain conditions, like severe mental health issues or those unable to make decisions for themselves, cannot join the study. The trial is currently recruiting participants, and your involvement could help improve support for veterans facing these challenges.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Veteran status,
• • admitted to an inpatient unit, referred by a suicide prevention coordinator, or identified as high-risk via data extraction,
• • age 18 and over,
• • English speaking and reading, and
• • ability to understand the study and provide informed consent,
• • high-risk status confirmed by suicide attempt within a month on the Columbia- Suicide Severity Rating Scale or a score \> 5 on the Scale for Suicidal Ideation
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • current psychosis,
• • active mania,
• • dementia,
• • impaired decision making capacity, and
• • institutionalization due to hospitalization in a non-VA facility, jail, or prison.