Dr. Mark Ilgen
Preventing suicide among members of the US armed forces, including the National Guard (NG), is of high public health significance. Crisis lines, including the Military and Veterans Crisis Line (MVCL), are widely available resources designed to provide easily accessible support to individuals during high-risk periods to prevent suicidal behaviors. Novel translational strategies are urgently needed to increase use of this best-practice resource among high-risk populations. Crisis Line Facilitation (CLF) is a brief intervention intended to enhance MVCL use and potentially help decrease the loss of life among NG members due to suicide. The overall purpose of this translation project is to conduct a Hybrid Type I Effectiveness-Implementation Trial testing group-based CLF vs. passive implementation (PI) to enhance MVCL use among members of the Michigan Army National Guard (MIARNG). During Phase 1 (Aim 1), we will conduct a cluster randomized control trial of approximately 300 MIARNG soldiers evaluating group-based CLF compared to PI (i.e., resource brochure) on several outcomes of interest. We will evaluate the feasibility of delivery and acceptability of the CLF intervention among MIARNG soldiers as well as the effectiveness of the CLF intervention on increasing contacts to the MVCL over a 6-month follow-up interval. Then, in Phase 2 (Aim 2), we will elicit feedback from key stakeholders and NG leadership on barriers and facilitators to MVCL use and CLF implementation in the MIARNG. Based on this feedback and using the translation framework of Enhanced-Replicating Effective Programs (E-REP), we will develop a customized implementation toolkit (i.e., program components, training materials, fidelity and process evaluation tools, technical support) to implement CLF within the MIARNG and further evaluate implementation using RE-AIM outcomes.