SAFER: A Brief Intervention Involving Family Members in Suicide Safety Planning

A novel, 5-session intervention to enhance currently mandated VA suicide safety planning by involving family members to support its implementation. Incorporation of education about suicide risk factors and teaching communication skills of active listening and making a positive request will supply Veterans and family members with the knowledge and tools needed to 1) identify potential warning signs, and 2) discuss Veteran ideation or family concerns with assurance that such requests will be listened to with validation and support, creating an ally for the suicidal Veteran in his struggle. As discussed above, research has demonstrated compellingly that suicidal desire is motivated by two interpersonal factors; perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness. SAFER aims to increase family support for the Veteran to directly mitigate Veteran loneliness and sense of being a burden to others.

The comparison condition will be an assessment-only enhanced treatment-as-usual intervention called the Individual Safety Planning Intervention (I-SPI).