Brief Relationship Checkup to lower suicide risk
Official title: Supporting Relationships to Reduce Suicide Risk: A Randomized Control Trial of the Brief Relationship Checkup
Funded at Veterans Affairs, United States Department of · NIH-11222644 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This offers a short, three-session couples program to help Veterans with relationship problems who are also dealing with depression, PTSD, alcohol misuse, or thoughts of suicide.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Veterans Affairs, United States Department of NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Canandaigua, United States) |
| Project start | November 1, 2022 |
| Project end | October 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| NIH project number | 5IK2RX003823-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11222644 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Partnered Veterans who are experiencing relationship distress and have symptoms of depression, PTSD, alcohol misuse, or suicidal thoughts would be most suitable to participate.
✕Less likely to help
Unpartnered Veterans, couples experiencing active domestic violence, or people needing intensive individual psychiatric care are unlikely to benefit from this brief couples approach.
What this research studies
You and your partner would attend three 30-minute sessions called the Brief Relationship Checkup, where a clinician uses couple therapy and motivational interviewing to help you set concrete steps to improve your relationship. The program is designed to be delivered inside VA primary care mental health so it is shorter and more accessible than traditional couples therapy. Couples are randomly assigned to receive the Checkup or usual care, and researchers will follow relationship health, suicide risk factors, and well-being over time. The sessions focus on building mutual responsiveness and practical commitments you both can try between visits.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reduce relationship problems and strengthen mutual support that lowers suicide risk for partnered Veterans.
How similar studies have gone: Previous Checkup-style programs have improved relationship functioning and protective factors against suicide, though large randomized trials specifically in Veterans remain limited.
Where this research is happening
-
Veterans Affairs, United States Department of
Canandaigua, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Crasta, Dev J — Veterans Affairs, United States Department of
- Study coordinator: Crasta, Dev J
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.