N/A
N=80
Caring Cards to and From Veterans: A Peer Approach to Suicide Prevention
Feasibility · Acceptability · Thwarted Belongingness · Perceived Burdensomeness · Suicide Risk
Bottom Line
View on ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04486677 ↗Enrolled (actual)
80
Serious AEs
2.5%
Results posted
May 2024
Primary outcome: Primary: Feasibility — 242; 234; 212; 233 Participants
Study Design & Population
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- N/A
- Interventions
- Caring Cards Group (Behavioral); Caring Cards Recipients (Behavioral)
- Age
- Pediatric, Adult, Older Adult
- Sex
- All
- Sponsor
- VA Office of Research and Development
- Primary completion
- Sep 2022
Outcome Measures
| Outcome | Result | p-value |
|---|---|---|
| PRIMARY Feasibility |
242; 234; 212; 233; 30; 50 | — |
| PRIMARY Intervention Satisfaction Questionnaire (Acceptability) |
13; 21; 11; 22 | — |
| SECONDARY Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire (INQ-15) |
39.19; 54.35; 36.67; 49.18 | — |
| SECONDARY Suicide Risk |
5.95; 11.50; 6.10; 10.21 | — |
| SECONDARY NIH Toolbox Adult Social Relationships Scales |
17.52; 21.79; 18.91; 18.41; 14.19; 18.59 | — |
Summary
Veteran suicide is a national problem; social disconnection is an important contributor to suicide risk. This pilot study will recruit Veterans to take part in a peer-centered intervention called Caring Cards (CC). CC gives Veterans who have a history of increased suicide risk the opportunity to make cards that are then sent to Veterans who are currently at high-risk for suicide. This study will directly benefit Veterans and contribute to the quality of services provided by VA by creating a safe, creative space for Veterans with lived experience related to suicide risk to join together to provide messages of hope, community, and resilience to their peers at risk for suicide. Helping Veterans support one another provides a bridge for social connection, which may help prevent Veteran suicide. This intervention may also improve Veterans' satisfaction with VA healthcare and engagement with mental health treatment.
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- For card-makers:
- VA San Diego Healthcare System (VASDHS) Veteran with an inactive high-risk flag,
- 18 years of age or older,
- access to transportation to attend the group (if held in person)
- if groups are held remotely due to COVID-19, access to reliable technology and WiFi to participate via WebEx
- decisional capacity.
- For card-recipients:
- VASDHS Veteran with an active high-risk flag,
- 18 years of age or older, and
- decisional capacity.
Exclusion Criteria
-For card-makers and recipients:
- the absence of a mailing address or working phone number,
- inability to read and writer in English, and
- previous or current experience with Caring Cards.
Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04486677). Outcome figures and adverse-event rates are extracted automatically from the registry's posted results and are provided for clinician reference, not as a substitute for the primary publication.