Training friends, family, and caregivers to help Veterans at risk of suicide
Official title: Randomized Controlled Effectiveness Trial of VA S.A.V.E. Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Training for Veterans’ Close Supports
Funded at Portland VA Medical Center · NIH-11180065 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project teaches friends, family, and caregivers simple skills to spot when a Veteran may be thinking about suicide and how to respond to keep them safe.
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 | October 1, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I01HX003816-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11180065 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are family members, friends, caregivers, or peers who are close supports of U.S. Veterans and want to learn how to spot and respond to suicide risk.
✕Less likely to help
People who are not close to any Veteran, are already trained as professional suicide-prevention providers, or who need immediate crisis treatment themselves are unlikely to benefit directly from participating.
What this research studies
If you are close to a Veteran, this project offers the VA S.A.V.E. training so you can learn the signs of suicide risk and what steps to take to connect the Veteran to help. People who join will be part of a randomized effectiveness trial comparing training approaches, and outreach will include social media and digital methods to reach supports of Veterans not currently in VA care. The study will use standardized patient simulations to measure how well participants use the skills they learn. The research is run by the Portland VA Medical Center and builds on an earlier pilot that tested this training.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the training could help loved ones recognize danger sooner and connect Veterans to lifesaving care.
How similar studies have gone: A prior pilot randomized trial of VA S.A.V.E. showed promising results, and this will be the first full-scale effectiveness trial of the program.
Where this research is happening
-
Portland VA Medical Center
Portland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Teo, Alan — Portland VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Teo, Alan
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Mobile safety planning for at-risk young adults
A digital, text-based safety planning program for young adults (ages 18–24) to help prevent suicide and stay connected to support.
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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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Technology-assisted suicide prevention for youth in Colombian school settings
A youth-focused program will test a culturally tailored digital platform and teacher training to reduce suicidal thoughts and behaviors in schools.
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Qnnections: A Social Connection‑Focused Suicide Prevention for LGBTQ+ Veterans
A new group-based program tailored for LGBTQ+ Veterans aims to strengthen belonging and reduce burdensomeness to help prevent suicide.
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Nurse- and Peer-Led Suicide Prevention for Women in Tajikistan
A nurse- and peer-led program in Tajikistan aims to help women at risk of suicide by adding tailored, frontline support in primary care.
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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.
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.