Perspectives of Suicidal Veterans on Safety Planning: Findings From a Pilot Study.
OBJECTIVE
Individual interviews were conducted and analyzed to learn about the engagement of suicidal veterans in safety planning.


METHODS
Twenty suicidal veterans who had recently constructed safety plans were recruited at two VA hospitals. In semistructured interviews, they discussed how they felt about constructing and using the plan and suggested changes in plan content and format that might increase engagement.


RESULTS
The veterans' experiences varied widely, from reviewing plans often and noting symptom improvement to not using them at all and doubting that they would think of doing so when deeply depressed.


CONCLUSIONS
The veterans suggested ways to enrich safety planning encounters and identified barriers to plan use. Their ideas were specific and practical. Safety planning was most meaningful and helpful to them when they experienced the clinician as a partner in exploring their concerns (e.g., fear of discussing and attending to warning signs) and collaborating with them to devise solutions.
1 Department of Veterans Affairs, James J. Peters Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA.
Deborah J
DJ
Kayman
2 National Development and Research Institutes, Inc. (NDRI), New York, NY, USA.
Marjorie F
MF
Goldstein
1 Department of Veterans Affairs, James J. Peters Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA.|3 Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.|4 New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA.
Lisa
L
Dixon
1 Department of Veterans Affairs, James J. Peters Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA.|5 Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY, USA.
Marianne
M
Goodman
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D012449:Safety; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult; D000092864:Suicide Prevention
mobile mental health; prevention; safety plan; suicide; veterans