Improving access to care for Veterans with serious mental illness
Official title: HSR&D Research Career Scientist Award
Funded at Veterans Health Administration · NIH-10897741 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how trained fellow Veterans can help other Veterans with serious mental health issues by teaching them social skills, supporting weight loss, and leading a suicide prevention program to make mental health services better for everyone.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Veterans Health Administration NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | October 1, 2023 |
| Project end | September 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| NIH project number | 5IK6HX003767-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10897741 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are Veterans diagnosed with serious mental illness who may benefit from peer support and coaching.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have serious mental illness or are not Veterans may not receive any benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on enhancing the support provided to Veterans with serious mental illness (SMI) through the deployment of trained Peer Specialists. These specialists, who are also Veterans, will help their peers develop cognitive and social skills, as well as assist those struggling with obesity in losing weight. The project also aims to create a suicide prevention program led by Peer Specialists. By utilizing a robust implementation strategy, the research seeks to improve the effectiveness of mental health services for Veterans.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve the mental health and overall well-being of Veterans with serious mental illness.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success in using Peer Specialists to improve mental health outcomes, indicating that this approach is both effective and promising.
Where this research is happening
-
Veterans Health Administration
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chinman, Matthew — Veterans Health Administration
- Study coordinator: Chinman, Matthew
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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.