Reducing firearm suicide among Veterans with peer-delivered counseling
Official title: Reducing Firearm Suicide Among Veterans: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Peer-Delivered Lethal Means Counseling
Funded at Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care · NIH-11591787 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A VA-funded project tests whether peer-delivered counseling helps Veterans store firearms more securely and reduces suicide risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Orleans, United States) |
| Project start | October 1, 2025 |
| Project end | September 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2027 |
| NIH project number | 5IK2CX002877-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11591787 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Veterans at risk of suicide who own or have access to firearms and are receiving care within the VA system.
✕Less likely to help
Veterans without firearm access or not at risk of suicide may not benefit from this specific intervention.
What this research studies
This project focuses on Veterans at risk of suicide and tests whether having peers deliver lethal means counseling can improve secure firearm storage. The study builds on prior evidence that counseling plus secure storage reduces risk, and it seeks to see if a peer messenger—someone from within the Veteran community—can enhance acceptability and effectiveness. Researchers will implement one-on-one discussions, tailor messaging to individual Veterans, and measure changes in storage practices and related outcomes over time. The goal is to identify a practical, Veteran-centered approach that can be scaled within VHA settings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, Veterans could benefit from safer firearm storage practices and potentially reduced risk of suicide.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies showed that lethal means counseling can be effective, but peer-delivered approaches in Veterans remain to be fully established.
Where this research is happening
-
Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care
New Orleans, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Houtsma, Claire — Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care
- Study coordinator: Houtsma, Claire
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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.