Group (“Project Life Force”) vs. Individual Suicide Safety Planning RCT

For suicidal individuals, minimizing future risk and fostering recovery are critical public health concerns, especially among veterans, as very few effective interventions exist. Despite extensive VA resources targeting suicidal Veterans, suicide deaths number twenty daily. This project will conduct a randomized clinical trial in suicidal Veterans of a novel 10-session group psychotherapy treatment that combines emotion regulation skill based, and psychoeducational approaches, with suicide safety planning. The comparison condition is weekly individual safety planning. Assessments will occur at baseline, post treatment, six and twelve months. The primary outcome is suicidal behavior with secondary outcomes of hopelessness, depression and treatment utilization.