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

Overview

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.

Firearm injuries are the most common lethal means in Veteran suicides (73%; VA, 2024). Storing firearms unlocked and/or loaded is associated with greater risk for suicide via firearm. Time and distance from firearms are critical, especially when an individual may be experiencing a crisis exacerbated by an existing mental health condition. New suicide prevention interventions are needed that reach individuals before the onset of a mental health crisis, and Veterans indicate they desire to include a concerned significant other (CSO; e.g., family member, friend) in their suicide prevention care. Innovation and Impact: Aligned with the VA National Strategy for Suicide Prevention goal of to developing programs that promote Veteran well-being, prevent suicide, and establish contingencies to reduce access to lethal means in the onset of suicide-related behaviors, the goal of this proposed study is to evaluate The Family FireArms Secure Storage Training (FFAST). The FFAST intervention is a single-session lethal means safety intervention, developed through stakeholder engagement, that incorporates the participation of a CSO to facilitate secure firearm storage prior to a mental health crisis. FFAST consists of four primary components: 1) CSO Involvement: participants are briefed on the importance and role of the CSO in the intervention, how they serve as an encouraging support person for the Veteran; 2) Psychoeducation: throughout the intervention, participants are briefed and engage in discussions on mental health symptoms, suicide warning signs, Veteran suicide rates and lethal means, and benefits of secure storage; 3) Secure Firearm Storage: educate and explore secure storage options with participants; and 4) Crisis Situation: participants navigate through a mock crisis scenario to practice their newly developed safety plan and increase comfort in discussing mental health and suicidal crisis. After being tested in two pilots (Suicide Prevention Research Impact Network \[SPRINT\], VA Health Sciences Research and Development \[HSR\], \& VA Office of Suicide Prevention \[OSP\], PI: DeBeer), collected data indicate the intervention is acceptable and feasible, and recruitment and retention procedures have been refined for future comparative testing and implementation. Specific Aims: Objective 1) Examine the relative effectiveness of FFAST against both active (i.e., Health and Stress Counseling) and waitlist control condition in increasing secure firearm storage within Veterans over time, as well as increasing CSOs' willingness to address a mental health crisis experienced by the Veteran; and Objective 2) Identify the barriers and facilitating factors of implementing the FFAST intervention within the VA Caregiver Support Program and Suicide Prevention 2.0. Methodology: Utilizing a 3-arm dynamic waitlist hybrid type I implementation/effectiveness randomized controlled trial (RCT) design, Veterans (n = 88) who store firearms in their home unlocked and/or loaded, and their CSOs (n = 88) will be recruited and randomly assigned to complete one of the three arms. Outcomes assessed at 1-,3-, and 6-month follow-up will include prevalence of engagement in secure firearm storage planning, practices (e.g., increases in locked and/or unloaded firearms or removal from home for safety), and mental health crisis preparedness in Veterans and their CSOs. In addition, a formative evaluation via key informant qualitative interviews with VA Caregiver Program and Suicide Prevention 2.0 providers and administrators (N = 20) will be conducted to facilitate future implementation efforts. Further, in-depth qualitative interviews will be conducted with a sub-set of Veterans and CSOs to understand their experiences with the intervention and inform implementation efforts. Path to Translation/Implementation: This trial will be the next step in our overall aim to prevent veteran suicide through an upstream, evidence-based suicide prevention intervention, and pave the way for FFAST to be disseminated and implemented widely across the VA.