SPRINT Priorities
One of SPRINT's main goals is to work with stakeholders, including our operations partners, to support a focused health services suicide prevention research agenda for Veterans. This process includes identifying high research priority areas that can be disseminated to the field and be supported by SPRINT Planning Awards.
In consultation with operations partners and based on review of evidence gaps, SPRINT has identified the following five specific topic areas as especially high priorities to support in Fiscal Year 2024:
Lethal Means Safety
- Includes use of innovative approaches to messaging/communications intended to reduce access to lethal means during periods of increased risk
- Includes understanding and addressing Veteran firearm-owning culture
Effectiveness of training
- Includes studies examining effectiveness of training programs for clinicians and staff, Veterans, families, or other gatekeepers
Engagement
- Includes engaging with community partners and in community settings
- Includes engaging with family, friends, peers to enhance suicide prevention
- Engaging Veterans not engaged in VA or healthcare outside of VA.
Interpersonal Violence
- Includes understanding impacts of interpersonal violence on suicide risk among victims
- Includes development of interventions addressing emotional regulation
Precision Medicine
- Differential treatment response/Treatment moderators
- Predictive analytics
- Understanding risk fluctuation over time, and matching specific treatments to level of risk
- Development of precision medicine models and tools that incorporate personal characteristics and/or social determinants of health
In addition, the following four specific Veteran groups have been selected for FY2024 by SPRINT as especially high priorities for study:
- Younger Veterans (18 to 24)
- Women Veterans
- Underserved Veterans
- Minority Veterans including those from disadvantaged backgrounds
