Public Messaging to Increase Treatment Seeking for Veterans at Risk for Suicide

The risk for suicide increases by nearly 50% in the first year that service members transition from the military to civilian life underscoring the need for effective strategies to facilitate help seeking among Veterans vulnerable to self-directed violence. Yet despite a great need for treatment, more than half of returning Veterans at risk for suicide do not initiate mental health services. VA has embarked on the regular use of communication campaigns as part of a public health approach designed to reach the larger Veteran population with messages promoting help seeking. However, what types of messages effectively change beliefs and behaviors for at-risk Veterans resistant to seek treatment is unclear. The main objective of this study is to develop and test the use of public messaging to increase treatment seeking among Veterans at risk for suicide and resistant to seek mental health care following separation from military service. This represents the first study to systematically develop public messaging strategies for populations at risk for suicide.

Inclusion Criteria: * U.S. Veteran that separated from military service in the past 36 months or less (any discharge type); * \>18 years old; * experiencing suicide risk; * low intent to seek help; * capable of understanding the goals of the study; * willing and able to provide verbal consent; * smartphone ownership and willing to download/use study mobile app Exclusion Criteria: * currently (or in the past 12 months) in formal mental health treatment services; * deemed impaired during eligibility screening; * currently institutionalized