Using a smartphone app to help prevent suicide in veterans after hospital discharge
Official title: Virtual Hope Box Enhanced Facilitation in High-Risk Suicidal Veterans
Run by VA Office of Research and Development · NCT06378541 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a smartphone app designed to help prevent suicide in veterans after they leave the hospital by providing support and resources to manage their mental health.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 928 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | VA Office of Research and Development Federal |
| Locations | 1 site (Ann Arbor, Michigan) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | March 26, 2025 |
| Main results expected | November 30, 2028 |
| Study ends | May 31, 2029 |
| Registry record updated | February 9, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT06378541 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates for this study are veterans aged 18 or older who have recently experienced a suicidal crisis and are medically stable.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients who do not understand English or are currently incarcerated may not benefit from this study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This study tests the effectiveness of the Virtual Hope Box Enhanced Facilitation (VHB-EF) intervention in reducing suicide risk among veterans discharged from inpatient psychiatric care. The intervention includes an in-person session to help veterans download and use the Virtual Hope Box app, followed by remote follow-up calls to monitor suicide risk and support app usage. The study also aims to gather insights from veterans and healthcare providers about the barriers and facilitators to adopting this intervention in healthcare settings. By enhancing access to evidence-based suicide prevention resources, the study seeks to improve outcomes for high-risk veterans.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this intervention could significantly reduce suicide risk among veterans after they leave inpatient care.
How similar studies have gone: Other studies have shown promise in using technology-based interventions for suicide prevention, but this specific approach is relatively novel.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Those enrolled in the RCT component of this study must be: * 1\) Veterans aged 18 or older * 2\) admitted to the inpatient psychiatric unit for a recent suicidal crisis * 3\) medically stable (the patient's medical and psychological fitness \[including aggression\] to provide informed consent will be determined by a member of the patient's treatment team) * 4\) A score of 3 or greater on the Callahan 6-item cognitive screening. * 5\) report current suicidal ideation (Scale for Suicidal Ideation \[SSI\]; sum of items 4 and 5 \> 0, referencing the week prior to their hospitalization) as reported during the screening interview * 6\) no reported use of the VHB within the past 12-months * 7\) access to a smartphone to download the VHB app Exclusion Criteria: Veterans will be found ineligible for the program if: * 1\) do not understand English * 2\) are prisoners * 3\) are unable to provide informed consent * 4\) have profound psychotic symptoms and/or cognitive deficits that would prevent patients from understanding the content of the intervention and/or assessments * 5\) to not have access to a smartphone
Where it's running
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VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI
Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Courtney L Bagge, PhD MA — VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI
- Study coordinator: Courtney L Bagge, PhD MA
- Email: Courtney.Bagge@va.gov
- Phone: (734) 845-3436
Similar studies
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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.