Involving Concerned Significant Others in Firearm Suicide Prevention: Development of the Family FireArms Secure...

Firearms account for 71% of veteran deaths by suicide and unsecure firearm storage practices are directly associated with increased suicide risk. Most firearm suicide prevention interventions deployed by the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) are directed at high-risk populations; however, a significant proportion of suicide attempts and deaths by suicide occur in individuals with undetected risk. Veterans may be open to discussions with a trusted, concerned significant other (CSO) such as a family member, friend, or spouse, including discussions about secure firearm storage. However, no interventions exist within the VA that address mental health crisis preparedness for CSOs and veterans.

The Family FireArms Secure Storage Training (FFAST) intervention was developed for veterans who do not securely store firearms. The intervention consists of 4 main components delivered during a virtual meeting between an interventionist, veteran, and CSO. Participants discuss current firearm storage practices and develop a plan to adopt more secure storage behaviors and respond to potential crisis situations. This article provides detailed descriptions of the intervention and the intended benefits of each component.

FFAST is a novel approach to firearm suicide prevention within the VA because it involves CSOs and emphasizes crisis preparedness and secure firearm storage among veterans who have not been identified as high suicide risk. Future applications include pilot studies to evaluate the intervention's feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy.