Exploring how new screening for suicidal thoughts affects Veterans
Official title: Understanding Impact of VHA's New Suicidal Ideation Screening Initiative: Veteran's Perspective
Funded at Portland VA Medical Center · NIH-11223308 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how Veterans feel about a new screening process for suicidal thoughts called VA Risk-ID and how it affects their willingness to get help, so we can understand what works well and what might need improvement.
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 | December 1, 2019 |
| Project end | September 30, 2024 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| NIH project number | 5I01HX002987-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11223308 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are Veterans who have experienced suicidal thoughts or are at risk for suicide.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not Veterans or those who have not experienced suicidal ideation may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the new multi-stage suicidal ideation screening process implemented by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) called VA Risk-ID. It aims to understand how Veterans perceive this screening and how it influences their willingness to seek treatment for suicidal thoughts. By using a mixed methods approach, the study will gather insights from Veterans about their experiences with the screening process and its impact on their engagement in care. The findings will help identify both positive and negative aspects of the screening initiative.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could improve the way Veterans are screened for suicidal thoughts, leading to better treatment engagement and potentially reducing suicide rates.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that understanding patient perspectives on screening can lead to improved healthcare practices, indicating potential success for this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Portland VA Medical Center
Portland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dobscha, Steven K — Portland VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Dobscha, Steven K
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Targeted online suicide prevention for Veterans
A web-based, one-session intervention for Veterans to reduce thoughts of suicide and self-harm by helping them manage distress and rigid thinking.
-
A brief, scalable module to help reduce suicidal thoughts in youth
A small, quick intervention module will be tested to help 12-year-olds who are experiencing suicidal thoughts feel safer and less burdened, using an accessible approach that could fit into regular care.
-
Depression, suicidal thoughts, and tech-based supports for rural adults
This project follows 2,000 adults in rural U.S. communities for a year to learn which social and economic factors lead to depression and suicidal thoughts and which technology-based supports people prefer.
-
Understanding factors linked to Black youth suicide and thoughts of harm
This project looks at what increases or protects Black youth from suicide and suicidal thoughts to help families and clinicians prevent these tragedies.
-
Understanding how social connections and daily routines affect late-life thoughts of suicide after a spouse’s death
This study follows older adults who recently lost a spouse to see how feeling connected to others and having consistent daily routines relate to suicide risk.
-
Depression and suicidal thoughts in bisexual teens and young adults
This project follows bisexual adolescents and young adults to learn how depression and suicidal thoughts change over time and what raises or lowers risk.
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.