Improving suicide-related care for Black, Indigenous, and Veterans of color
Official title: Serving All Who Have Served: Enhancing Suicide-Related Care Quality for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Veterans
Funded at Portland VA Medical Center · NIH-11164553 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether Veterans of color are getting the recommended suicide-prevention care after self-harm and gathers their experiences to guide fairer care.
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 | May 1, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I01HX003545-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11164553 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are Black, Indigenous, or other Veterans of color who receive VA care and have experienced self-directed violence or recent suicidal behavior, or who can describe the care they received.
✕Less likely to help
Veterans who do not receive care through the VA, who are not people of color, or who have no history of suicidal behavior may not directly benefit from this project.
What this research studies
From a patient's point of view, the team will review VA treatment records and combine that information with interviews or surveys of Black, Indigenous, and other Veterans of color who experienced self-directed violence. They will check whether recommended steps after self-harm—like safety plans and timely follow-up mental health visits—were offered and completed. The study mixes national VA data analysis with conversations to understand both patterns in care and Veterans' real-world experiences. Results will be used to shape future efforts to make suicide-prevention care more equitable and effective.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could help the VA deliver more equitable and consistent suicide-prevention care to Veterans of color.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown racial disparities in VA mental health care, but focused work on suicide-related care quality for BIPOC Veterans is limited, so this approach is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
Portland VA Medical Center
Portland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chen, Jason I — Portland VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Chen, Jason I
Related research
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How School Cellphone Rules Might Affect Youth Suicide and Violence
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INCLUSAVE: helping young adults with IDD access suicide-prevention trainings
A new NIH grant studies whether two proven gatekeeper trainings (ASIST and safeTALK) can be delivered in inclusive settings to support young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their communities.
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A universal school program to help middle schoolers stay emotionally regulated and safer
A school-based program teaches students calming skills to reduce violence and thoughts of self-harm, tested in a randomized trial with middle schoolers.
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.