Using motivational interviewing to help veterans with suicidal thoughts
Official title: Motivational Interviewing to Address Suicidal Ideation: A Randomized Controlled Trial with Suicidal Veterans
Funded at Veterans Affairs, United States Department of · NIH-10919762 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking to help veterans who have recently faced a tough time with thoughts of suicide by using a friendly conversation technique to boost their motivation to live, with a few in-person meetings and a follow-up call to support them.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Veterans Affairs, United States Department of NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Canandaigua, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| NIH project number | 5I01CX002359-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10919762 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are veterans who have recently undergone a suicidal crisis or psychiatric hospitalization.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not veterans or those who have not experienced recent suicidal crises may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on veterans who have recently experienced a suicidal crisis, aiming to enhance their mental health support through a revised motivational interviewing technique. The approach involves one to two in-person sessions followed by a telephone booster session to help veterans resolve their ambivalence about living. By increasing their motivation to live, the study seeks to complement existing suicide prevention strategies already in place. The effectiveness of this method will be evaluated through a randomized controlled trial.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce the number of suicide attempts among veterans experiencing suicidal ideation.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise with motivational interviewing techniques in mental health settings, indicating potential for success in this novel application.
Where this research is happening
-
Veterans Affairs, United States Department of
Canandaigua, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Britton, Peter C — Veterans Affairs, United States Department of
- Study coordinator: Britton, Peter C
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.