Evaluating the Effectiveness of Safety Plans for Military Veterans: Do Safety Plans Tailored to Veteran...

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Mental Health
• Military Health

Background:

• High suicide rates among veterans necessitate interventions like Safety Plans (SPs).
• Existing research on SP efficacy is inconclusive, with limited understanding of quality's impact on outcomes.
• No studies have evaluated specific SP components for reducing suicidal behavior in veterans.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if more personally relevant (higher quality) SPs reduce future suicide-related outcomes.
• To identify which SP components are most effective in mitigating suicidal behavior among veterans.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of data from 68 veterans in a longitudinal national registry with suicide-related events.
• Utilized SP quality scores to predict future suicide-related outcomes (hospitalization, self-harm, attempts).
• Data collected from December 2009 to September 2016; analysis conducted March 2016 to February 2017.

Main Results:

• Overall SP quality scores were found to be low.
• Higher SP quality scores were associated with a decreased likelihood of future suicide behavior reports.
• Increased scores on Step 3 (distraction resources) predicted fewer future suicide behavior reports.

Conclusions:

• More personally relevant Safety Plans show potential in reducing future suicide-related outcomes for veterans.
• The low quality of implemented SPs underscores the need for enhanced training within the VA system.
• Targeting specific components, like distraction strategies, may improve SP effectiveness.