Testing the Use of VA Peer Specialists to Prevent Veteran Suicide

Part of paid clinical trials in Baltimore, Maryland.

Sponsor
VA Office of Research and Development
Study ID
NCT07286383
Status
Recruiting
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Conditions

  • Suicide Risk

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
18 Years - N/A
Healthy Volunteers
Not accepted

Interventions

  • PREVAIL — BEHAVIORAL
    12 session, peer specialist delivered, suicide prevention program

Study Details

This study examines a novel way to prevent suicide among Veterans with serious mental illness (SMI). It will assess the efficacy of PREVAIL-VA, a 3-month intervention of 12, one-on-one sessions between a Peer Specialist (PS) and a Veteran that involve semi-structured conversations focused on hope, belongingness, support, and safety. PSs are Veterans with SMI trained to use their own experience and recovery to help other Veterans with SMI. PSs have improved mental health outcomes in other research, but this study would be the first to test their efficacy for suicide prevention in VHA. The project will compare outcomes of Veterans at risk for suicide receiving usual care, to PREVAIL-VA. This work is responsive to national calls for Veterans with SMI to receive support that is evidence-based, improves recovery (not just symptoms), and is tailored to individual needs. If successful, PREVAIL-VA could be adopted by the 1400 Peer Specialists employed in VA, greatly increasing the delivery of evidence-based services to Veterans at risk for suicide.

Key Dates

First listed
Dec 16, 2025
Start date
Sep 1, 2026
Status verified
Sep 2026
Primary completion
Dec 31, 2028
Completion
Dec 31, 2029

Study Design

Enrollment
306 participants (estimated)
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH

Arms

  • Experimental: PREVAIL
    12 session, peer specialist delivered, suicide prevention program
  • No Intervention: Usual Care
    Veterans assigned to this group will receive additional monitoring but no active intervention.

Primary Outcome Measure

Computerized Adaptive Test- Suicide Scale; Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale [ Time Frame: Baseline, 3 months, 6 months ]

Central Contacts

Locations (3)

FacilityCityStateZIPSite coordinators
Baltimore VA Medical Center VA Maryland Health Care System, Baltimore, MDBaltimoreMaryland21201
Richard Goldberg, PhD
[email protected]
410-637-1851
VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MIAnn ArborMichigan48105-2303-
VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System University Drive Division, Pittsburgh, PAPittsburghPennsylvania15240
Matthew J Chinman, PhD
[email protected]
(412) 360-2438
Jessica R Dodge, PhD MSW MPH
[email protected]
(734) 845-3609
Matthew J Chinman, PhD (PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR)

Find similar trials in Baltimore, MD

By research site
Baltimore VA Medical Center VA Maryland Health Care System, Baltimore, MD· Baltimore, MDVA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI· Ann Arbor, MIVA Pittsburgh Healthcare System University Drive Division, Pittsburgh, PA· Pittsburgh, PA

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