Personalized Safety Plans for Veterans in Inpatient Psychiatry
Official title: Rapid Personalization of Safety Plans for Psychiatrically Hospitalized Veterans atHigh-Risk for Suicide
Funded at VA Boston Health Care System · NIH-11299693 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new program will personalize and rapidly deliver safety plans for veterans hospitalized for psychiatric care to reduce suicide risk after discharge.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | VA Boston Health Care System NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | October 1, 2026 |
| Project end | September 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 1IK2RD001575-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11299693 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Veterans recently discharged from VA inpatient psychiatry who are at high risk for suicide.
✕Less likely to help
Veterans without elevated suicide risk or those outside the VA inpatient discharge context may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project targets veterans in VA inpatient psychiatry who are at high risk of suicide after leaving the hospital. It tests a streamlined, single-session safety plan with two brief coaching contacts over three months to tailor coping strategies to each individual. The approach blends rapid delivery with personalization to address each veteran’s warning signs and skills. The team will start with a small case-series to fine-tune the method and then test it in a pilot randomized trial against usual safety planning. If effective, the intervention could become a standard, patient-centered part of discharge planning in VA settings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, veterans may have more effective, personalized safety plans and support during the highest-risk period after discharge, potentially reducing suicide risk.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work shows personalized, timely support improves adherence to safety planning, but this project is testing a rapid, coach-delivered personalization in a high-risk post-discharge window.
Where this research is happening
-
VA Boston Health Care System
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kearns, Jaclyn — VA Boston Health Care System
- Study coordinator: Kearns, Jaclyn
Related research
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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.