Preventing suicide after discharge from community mental health care
Official title: Suicide Prevention In Department of Veterans Affairs Community Care Network Mental Health Settings
Run by VA Office of Research and Development · NCT06596044 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will try the VA Brief Intervention and Contact Program (VA BIC) to see if it reduces suicidal thoughts and behaviors and improves care engagement for Veterans after discharge from non-VA acute psychiatric treatment.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 120 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | VA Office of Research and Development Federal |
| Locations | 1 site (White River Junction, Vermont) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | October 1, 2025 |
| Main results expected | June 30, 2028 |
| Study ends | September 30, 2028 |
| Registry record updated | September 8, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT06596044 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are Veterans eligible for VA services, age 18 or older, English-speaking, recently discharged from acute psychiatric care in a VA-affiliated non-VA setting in Northern New England, and reporting recent suicidal ideation (Beck score ≥2).
✕Probably not a fit
Patients unlikely to benefit include those who cannot consent, are currently receiving assertive community treatment, are institutionalized or involuntarily committed, or who the study physician deems clinically inappropriate due to active psychosis or dementia.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
The trial will enroll Veterans who received acute psychiatric treatment in VA-affiliated non-VA settings in Northern New England and who report recent suicidal ideation. Participants will be randomized to receive VA BIC plus standard care or standard care alone, with outcome assessors blinded to group assignment. Key outcomes include suicidal ideation, engagement in mental health care, social connectedness, and suicidal behaviors after discharge. The design builds on pilot VA work suggesting VA BIC can improve care transitions and treatment engagement but extends testing to Veterans treated outside VA facilities.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, VA BIC could reduce suicidal thoughts and attempts after discharge and improve Veterans' connection to care and social support.
How similar studies have gone: Pilot studies of VA BIC within VA settings have shown promising effects on connectedness and treatment engagement, but VA BIC has not been tested specifically for Veterans discharged from non-VA acute psychiatric care.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Veteran who is eligible to receive VA services * Able to speak English * Received acute psychiatric treatment in a non-VA setting affiliated with VA in Northern New England * Endorse recent suicidal ideation (score 2+ on Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation) Exclusion Criteria: * Unable to provide informed consent * Currently receiving assertive community treatment * Potentially vulnerable populations including prisoners, institutionalized patients, or patients currently admitted on involuntary commitment status * Study physician deems the patient is not clinically appropriate because of clinical status such as presence of active psychosis or dementia
Where it's running
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White River Junction VA Medical Center, White River Junction, VT
White River Junction, Vermont, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Natalie Riblet, MD MPH — White River Junction VA Medical Center, White River Junction, VT
- Study coordinator: Natalie Riblet, MD MPH
- Email: Natalie.Riblet@va.gov
- Phone: (802) 295-9363
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.