Leveraging Video Vignettes and Social Media to Promote Safe Firearm Storage Among Veterans
VA Office of Research and Development
Summary
Family and friends are trusted by Veterans, and can play a vital role in supporting Veteran suicide prevention. Veterans are more likely to adopt secure firearm storage if their loved ones discuss firearm safety with them and if they are exposed to compelling personal stories. "Worried About a Veteran" (WAV) is an online resource that contains 13 powerful, video-based vignettes designed to empower loved ones to initiate life-saving conversations about safeguarding firearms in the homes of Veterans at risk for suicide. The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of WAV in encouraging loved ones to discuss safe firearm storage with Veterans.
Description
Significance to VA: Firearms are involved in 71% of Veteran suicides. Lethal means safety (LMS)-the intentional practice of limiting access to lethal means, such as firearms, to reduce suicide risk-is key to Veteran suicide prevention. Veterans are more likely to adopt secure firearm storage if their loved ones discuss firearm safety with them and if they are exposed to compelling personal stories. Worried About a Veteran (WAV) is a novel, acceptable intervention that includes 13 compelling, Veteran-centered video vignettes about secure firearm storage told from the perspective of Veterans' lo…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: * Living in U.S. * Family member, caregiver, or friend of a Veteran * Social contact at least once a week with a Veteran who possesses a household firearm, and * Access to a household firearm Exclusion Criteria: * Not providing a valid phone number and email address * No internet access * Indication of duplicate study entry
Interventions
- BehavioralWAV videos
13 "Worried About a Veteran" video vignettes. The videos are brief (\< 3 minutes), professionally developed, and involve vignettes of Veterans' family members that teach warning signs of suicidal crisis, practical guidance for LMS, and how to collaboratively discuss lethal means and secure storage.
- BehavioralVA News videos
VA News videos range in topic, such as VA benefits, research highlights, and Veteran interest stories (e.g., Veteran hockey league). Videos will be current at the time of study launch and unrelated to firearms and suicide prevention.
- BehavioralVA LMS brochure
2-page VA educational brochure on lethal means safety (LMS). The brochure is titled "Reducing Firearm and Other Household Safety Risks for Veterans and Their Families," and it provides information on the importance of reducing access to lethal means such as firearms and medications for individuals at risk of suicide.
Location
- VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, ORPortland, Oregon