Virtual Hope Box ease: a smartphone support for high-risk veterans after discharge
Official title: Virtual Hope Box Enhanced Facilitation in High-Risk Suicidal Veterans
Funded at Veterans Health Administration · NIH-11476938 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A mobile app-based program aims to reduce suicide attempts in veterans recently discharged from inpatient care by enhancing coping tools and connections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Veterans Health Administration NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2024 |
| Project end | September 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I01HX003502-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11476938 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Veterans recently discharged from inpatient mental health care who use or are able to use a mobile phone app and engage with follow-up mental health services.
✕Less likely to help
Veterans with limited or no access to smartphones or those unlikely to engage with mobile app supports may gain little or no benefit.
What this research studies
This project builds on the Virtual Hope Box app to include enhanced facilitation (VHB-EF) designed to help veterans stay engaged with coping strategies after leaving hospital. It uses technology to deliver reasons for living and practical coping tools that can be accessed anywhere, with emphasis on improving follow-up care and reducing risky periods after discharge. The study leverages real-world clinical settings within Veterans Health Administration to test whether these supports can lower suicide attempts among high-risk veterans.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, veterans at high risk could have fewer suicide attempts and better access to coping resources after discharge.
How similar studies have gone: Previous small trials suggested improved coping self-efficacy; this study aims to confirm impact on suicide attempts with a larger sample.
Where this research is happening
-
Veterans Health Administration
Ann Arbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bagge, Courtney L — Veterans Health Administration
- Study coordinator: Bagge, Courtney L
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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.