Personalized Safety Plans for Suicide Prevention
What You Need to Know Before You Apply
What is the purpose of this trial?
This trial tests a new approach to safety planning for veterans at risk of suicide after hospitalization. The goal is to determine if Personalized Safety Plans (PSP), which include a tailored session and follow-up coaching, can reduce suicidal thoughts and improve coping skills compared to usual safety plans. Veterans hospitalized for suicide risk who can understand the study may be eligible to participate. This trial aims to assess the effectiveness and practicality of the PSP approach for these high-risk individuals. As an unphased trial, it offers veterans the chance to contribute to innovative research that could enhance future safety planning strategies.
Do I have to stop taking my current medications for the trial?
The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the study staff or your doctor.
What prior data suggests that Personalized Safety Plans are safe for veterans?
Research shows that safety plans are generally safe and well-tolerated. Various studies highlight their effectiveness in reducing suicidal thoughts and behaviors. For example, one study found that using a safety plan cut the chance of returning to the emergency room for suicidal behaviors by half. Another study showed that safety plans helped lower suicidal thoughts and attempts. Overall, safety plans have reduced suicidal behavior by 45% after leaving care. These findings suggest that a well-designed safety plan, such as the Personalized Safety Plans under study, is likely safe and could help prevent suicide.12345
Why are researchers excited about this trial?
Researchers are excited about Personalized Safety Plans for suicide prevention because they offer a tailored approach to each individual's crisis, unlike standard safety plans that follow a more generic template. This method incorporates chain and solution analyses from Dialectical Behavior Therapy to create a personalized and actionable plan, addressing specific factors that contribute to a person's suicidal crisis. Additionally, the follow-up coaching sessions provide ongoing support, helping individuals to adapt their plans and overcome barriers to using them effectively at home. This personalized and dynamic approach aims to enhance the effectiveness of safety planning during the high-risk period following discharge from inpatient care.
What evidence suggests that Personalized Safety Plans could be effective for suicide prevention?
Research has shown that personalized safety plans, which participants in this trial may receive, effectively reduce suicidal thoughts and actions. Studies indicate that these plans, when implemented correctly, can lead to a 42% decrease in suicide events. Personalized plans are more effective because they identify personal triggers—specific events or experiences that cause distress—and create strategies to cope with them. Ongoing coaching sessions, included in the personalized safety plan intervention in this trial, help individuals adjust their plans and address challenges faced at home. Overall, personalized safety planning offers a promising way to support veterans during vulnerable times after leaving the hospital.12367
Who Is on the Research Team?
Jaclyn Kearns, PhD
Principal Investigator
VA Boston Healthcare System Jamaica Plain Campus, Jamaica Plain, MA
Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?
This trial is for veterans admitted to inpatient psychiatry due to suicide risk, who are medically stable and able to understand English. It excludes those with current psychosis, mania, dementia or major cognitive issues, very short stays (under 48 hours), or prisoner status.Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
Timeline for a Trial Participant
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Intervention
Personalized Safety Plans (PSP) is a single-session intervention followed by twice-monthly coaching sessions over the three-month high-risk discharge period.
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment, with assessments at 1, 3, and 6 months post-discharge.
What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?
Interventions
- Personalized Safety Plans
Trial Overview
The study compares a new personalized safety plan—delivered in one session plus follow-up coaching calls—to standard safety planning with check-in calls. Veterans are randomly assigned to either group after psychiatric hospitalization.
How Is the Trial Designed?
2
Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Personalized Safety Plans is a single-session (up to 90min) inpatient intervention followed by twice-monthly coaching sessions (up to 30min each) over the three-month high-risk discharge period. The inpatient session uses chain and solution analyses from Dialectical Behavior Therapy to build a shared understanding of the suicide crisis, including vulnerability factors, prompting events, behavioral links, consequences, and solutions. Veterans also identify distal patterns of suicide risk, supporting proactive risk reduction. Chain and solution analyses populate a personalized, actionable safety plan. Follow-up coaching sessions focus on the Veteran's safety plan, including reviewing its personalization, addressing barriers to in-home use, and making necessary updates. Participants will continue to receive inpatient and outpatient treatment as usual.
The comparator condition is Safety Plan as Usual plus attentional control phone calls. Safety Plan as Usual reflect standard clinical practice on the inpatient psychiatry of how safety plans are created. Per VHA Directives and clinical requirements, all at-risk patients must collaboratively develop a SP and receive a copy prior to discharge. Providers use the suicide narrative alongside questions from the Safety Planning Intervention Manual. Attentional control phone calls are twice-monthly supportive check-ins, matched in frequency to the Personalized Safety Plans coaching sessions, designed to control for time and attention differences between conditions. Participants will continue to receive inpatient and outpatient treatment as usual.
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
VA Office of Research and Development
Lead Sponsor
Citations
Effectiveness of Suicide Safety Planning Interventions - PMC
Evidence across a range of studies indicates that SSP is effective for reducing suicide behavior (SB) and ideation (SI).
Evaluating the Effectiveness of Safety Plans for Mitigating ...
SP quality was associated with reduced risk for suicide outcomes. •. SP quality issues were common; nearly all contained at least one poor-quality item. •.
Safety Planning vs Standard Care for Suicide Prevention ...
Framing the clinical importance of these findings (Table 3), the SPI was associated with a relative risk reduction of 42% for suicide events and ...
Evaluating the Effectiveness of Safety Plans for ... - Nock Lab
Overall, results suggest that mandating SPs without training and imple- mentation strategies to ensure quality is not enough. Keywords: suicide; ...
Safety Planning Intervention to Reduce Short Term Risk
This study will determine the efficacy of Safety Planning Intervention (SPI) compared to receiving risk factors and warning sign information (RWI) in recent ...
Impact of Digital Safety Plan Activation on Subsequent ...
Participants who activated the safety plan had a 50% lower likelihood of returning to the ED for suicidal behavior (ie, suicidal ideation or ...
Safety Planning Interventions for Suicide Prevention in ...
This systematic review and meta-analysis investigates the effectiveness of safety planning as a standalone intervention for suicide ...
Unbiased Results
We believe in providing patients with all the options.
Your Data Stays Your Data
We only share your information with the clinical trials you're trying to access.
Verified Trials Only
All of our trials are run by licensed doctors, researchers, and healthcare companies.