Testing Family Firearm Secure Storage Training (FFAST) to Prevent Suicide

Summary

Firearms are the lethal means used in over 70% of Veteran suicides with rates of Veteran deaths via self-induced firearm injury rising dramatically (by 64.8%) from 2001 to 2022. Upstream, evidence-based lethal means safety interventions are urgently needed within the VA to address this serious issue. The Family Firearms Secure Storage Training (FFAST) intervention consists of single session in which Veterans and their concerned significant others (CSOs) are guided through a discussion on secure firearm storage practices and develop a safety plan to prepare them for a mental health crisis. This study aims to evaluate the relative effectiveness of FFAST against a control condition in promoting secure firearm storage planning, preparedness for a mental health crisis, and secure storage practices within Veterans and their CSOs. In addition, barriers and facilitating factors of implementing FFAST within the VA Caregiver Support Program and Suicide Prevention 2.0 will be examined to aid in the widespread adoption of FFAST across the VA.

Conditions

• Lethal Means Safety
• Brief Intervention
• Concern Significant Others

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

The Family Firearms Secure storage Training (FFAST) Intervention

The intervention consists of a brief, single-session intervention where a Veteran and their CSO work together to create a secure storage plan for firearms in the home in the event the Veteran experiences a mental health crisis, and how the CSO can support the Veteran during a crisis. This intervention can be used by any Veteran who owns firearms, and neither the Veteran nor CSO need to be experiencing mental health symptoms to participate. The intervention serves as an upstream method of suicide prevention that can be delivered in-person, through a telehealth appointment, or over the phone.

BEHAVIORAL

Health and Stress Counseling

HSC is a brief intervention where Veterans and their CSOs meet with an interventionist to learn how to support a Veteran's well-being. Areas include diet, exercise, sleep, stress, and other factors that may impact overall health.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System

  collaborator FED

• VA Office of Research and Development

  lead FED

Principal Investigators

• Bryann R DeBeer, PhD · Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center, Aurora, CO

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

80 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-10-01

Primary Completion

2030-06-01

Completion

2030-09-30

Countries

• United States

Study Locations