Virtual Reality Lethal Means Safety Training

Summary

The goal of this randomized clinical trial is to determine whether a virtual reality (VR) training program can help healthcare providers improve their skills in discussing suicide prevention and safe storage of firearms and medications with Veterans. The study will test whether VR training increases providers' self-efficacy, confidence, and comfort in conducting lethal means safety counseling, and whether it improves their intention to use these counseling practices in their clinical work. Researchers will compare healthcare providers who complete the VR training to those who complete a 2D video training to determine whether the VR approach is more effective. Participants will complete online surveys before and after the training and again three months later. They will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: VR training group: Participants use a VR headset to interact with a virtual Veteran patient in a simulated rural clinic and practice suicide prevention counseling skills; Video training group: Participants use the same headset to watch a \~10-minute 2D video depicting the lethal means safety counseling session. After the training, participants will also provide feedback about their experience, including how realistic and useful they found the training.

Conditions

• Suicide, Attempted
• Suicide, Completed
• Suicide Prevention
• Mental Health Training
• Rural Health
• Veterans

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Virtual Reality Lethal Means Safety Training

An immersive behavioral training program delivered through a Meta Quest 3 virtual reality headset. Participants enter a simulated rural health clinic and interact with a Veteran avatar at risk for suicide. The simulation incorporates realistic dialogue and decision points where providers practice skills in suicide risk identification, lethal means safety counseling (firearm and medication storage), and collaborative safety planning. The VR format allows repeated practice in a safe environment and provides a more engaging and realistic training experience than traditional methods.

BEHAVIORAL

2D Video Training

A 10-minute video delivered through a VR headset that depicts a healthcare provider conducting lethal means safety counseling with a Veteran. This is a non-interactive training used as an active comparator.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

  collaborator OTHER

• The University of Texas at Arlington

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Donna L. Schuman, PhD, LCSW · University of Texas at Arlington, School of Social Work

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

OTHER

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-02-23

Primary Completion

2026-05-01

Completion

2026-09-30

Countries

• United States

Study Locations