Caring messages to boost social connection after a crisis
Official title: Increasing Social Connection Through Crisis Caring Contacts: A Pragmatic Trial
Funded at Portland VA Medical Center · NIH-11180271 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Sending short, caring messages to Veterans—especially older adults with medical or mental health conditions—to reduce loneliness and encourage follow-up after a crisis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Portland VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Portland, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2022 |
| Project end | January 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I01HX003428-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11180271 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are Veterans, particularly older adults with medical or psychiatric conditions who have limited engagement with treatment or who recently experienced a crisis.
✕Less likely to help
People without health or mental health concerns, those who are already well-connected socially, or non-Veterans may be less likely to benefit from this intervention.
What this research studies
You would receive brief caring contacts (for example letters, texts, or phone messages) after a crisis to help you feel more connected and supported. The project compares usual VA care with adding regular caring contacts to see whether those messages improve social connection and treatment engagement. This pragmatic, low-cost approach is designed to be scalable and relevant during disasters such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The trial follows participants for loneliness, engagement with care, and suicide-related outcomes and is run through the Portland VA Medical Center.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If effective, this could reduce loneliness, improve treatment follow-through, and lower suicide risk among affected Veterans.
How similar studies have gone: Caring Contacts has shown benefit in some psychiatric groups previously, but it has not been widely tested in older Veterans or during disasters like the COVID-19 pandemic.
Where this research is happening
-
Portland VA Medical Center
Portland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Teo, Alan — Portland VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Teo, Alan
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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.