title: An Emergency Department Intervention and Follow-Up to Reduce Suicide Risk in the VA: Acceptability and Effectiveness.
abstract: Emergency departments (EDs) are often the primary contact point for suicidal individuals. The post-ED visit period is a high suicide risk time. To address the need for support during this time, a novel intervention was implemented in five Department of Veterans Affairs medical center EDs. The intervention combined the Safety Planning Intervention (SPI) with structured follow-up and monitoring (SFU) by telephone for suicidal individuals who did not require hospitalization. This study assessed the intervention's acceptability and perceived usefulness.
  
  
  
  A selected sample of 100 intervention participants completed a semistructured interview consisting of open-ended questions about the intervention's acceptability, usefulness, and helpfulness. Satisfaction with the SPI and SFU was separately evaluated.
  
  
  
  Nearly all participants found the SAFE VET intervention to be acceptable, reporting that it was helpful in preventing further suicidal behavior and fostering treatment engagement.
  
  
  
  The SAFE VET intervention showed promise as an ED intervention for suicidal patients.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Stanley and Dr. Chaudhury are with the Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York City (e-mail: bhs2@cumc.columbia.edu ). They are also with the New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York City, where Dr. Chesin is affiliated. Dr. Chesin is also with the Department of Psychology, William Paterson University, Wayne, New Jersey. Dr. Pontoski, Ms. Bush, and Dr. Brown are with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Dr. Brown is also with the VISN 4 Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, Philadelphia. Dr. Knox is with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Stanley
authors.affiliation: Dr. Stanley and Dr. Chaudhury are with the Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York City (e-mail: bhs2@cumc.columbia.edu ). They are also with the New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York City, where Dr. Chesin is affiliated. Dr. Chesin is also with the Department of Psychology, William Paterson University, Wayne, New Jersey. Dr. Pontoski, Ms. Bush, and Dr. Brown are with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Dr. Brown is also with the VISN 4 Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, Philadelphia. Dr. Knox is with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York.
authors.forename: Sadia R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Chaudhury
authors.affiliation: Dr. Stanley and Dr. Chaudhury are with the Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York City (e-mail: bhs2@cumc.columbia.edu ). They are also with the New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York City, where Dr. Chesin is affiliated. Dr. Chesin is also with the Department of Psychology, William Paterson University, Wayne, New Jersey. Dr. Pontoski, Ms. Bush, and Dr. Brown are with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Dr. Brown is also with the VISN 4 Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, Philadelphia. Dr. Knox is with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York.
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chesin
authors.affiliation: Dr. Stanley and Dr. Chaudhury are with the Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York City (e-mail: bhs2@cumc.columbia.edu ). They are also with the New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York City, where Dr. Chesin is affiliated. Dr. Chesin is also with the Department of Psychology, William Paterson University, Wayne, New Jersey. Dr. Pontoski, Ms. Bush, and Dr. Brown are with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Dr. Brown is also with the VISN 4 Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, Philadelphia. Dr. Knox is with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York.
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pontoski
authors.affiliation: Dr. Stanley and Dr. Chaudhury are with the Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York City (e-mail: bhs2@cumc.columbia.edu ). They are also with the New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York City, where Dr. Chesin is affiliated. Dr. Chesin is also with the Department of Psychology, William Paterson University, Wayne, New Jersey. Dr. Pontoski, Ms. Bush, and Dr. Brown are with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Dr. Brown is also with the VISN 4 Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, Philadelphia. Dr. Knox is with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York.
authors.forename: Ashley Mahler
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Bush
authors.affiliation: Dr. Stanley and Dr. Chaudhury are with the Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York City (e-mail: bhs2@cumc.columbia.edu ). They are also with the New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York City, where Dr. Chesin is affiliated. Dr. Chesin is also with the Department of Psychology, William Paterson University, Wayne, New Jersey. Dr. Pontoski, Ms. Bush, and Dr. Brown are with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Dr. Brown is also with the VISN 4 Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, Philadelphia. Dr. Knox is with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York.
authors.forename: Kerry L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Knox
authors.affiliation: Dr. Stanley and Dr. Chaudhury are with the Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York City (e-mail: bhs2@cumc.columbia.edu ). They are also with the New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York City, where Dr. Chesin is affiliated. Dr. Chesin is also with the Department of Psychology, William Paterson University, Wayne, New Jersey. Dr. Pontoski, Ms. Bush, and Dr. Brown are with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Dr. Brown is also with the VISN 4 Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, Philadelphia. Dr. Knox is with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York.
authors.forename: Gregory K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000523:psychology; D006787:Hospitals, Veterans; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D013689:Telephone / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*; D000092864:Suicide Prevention