Family Firearm Secure Storage Training for Suicide Prevention
(FFAST RCT Trial)
What You Need to Know Before You Apply
What is the purpose of this trial?
This trial aims to help Veterans and their loved ones learn secure firearm storage to prevent suicide. It tests the effectiveness of the Family Firearms Secure Storage Training (FFAST), which creates a safety plan for mental health crises. Researchers will compare participants to those receiving general health and stress counseling or those on a waitlist. Veterans who own firearms and currently store them unsafely at home, along with a willing family member or friend, may be suitable for this study. As an unphased trial, this study offers participants the chance to contribute to important research that could enhance safety and save lives.
What prior data suggests that the Family Firearms Secure Storage Training (FFAST) intervention is safe for Veterans and their significant others?
Research has shown that the Family Firearms Secure Storage Training (FFAST) is well-liked by participants. One study found that nearly everyone, about 97.7%, completed the training, indicating it was easy to follow and not too demanding. Additionally, 40% of participants reported making positive changes in firearm storage, such as purchasing gun locks, safes, or lockboxes for security.
These changes suggest that the training is practical and encourages safer habits without negative effects. Overall, FFAST appears to be a safe and effective method for promoting secure firearm storage, aiding in suicide prevention efforts.12345Why are researchers excited about this trial?
Researchers are excited about the Family Firearms Secure Storage Training (FFAST) because it directly involves veterans and their loved ones in creating a personalized plan for safely storing firearms during mental health crises. Unlike traditional approaches that might focus more on counseling or medication, FFAST emphasizes collaboration and proactive planning to prevent potential harm. This method could enhance safety by fostering open communication and practical preparation, offering a fresh strategy in suicide prevention efforts.
What evidence suggests that the Family Firearms Secure Storage Training (FFAST) intervention is effective for suicide prevention?
Research has shown that promoting safe firearm storage can significantly reduce the risk of suicide. This trial will evaluate the Family Firearms Secure Storage Training (FFAST) Intervention, where Veterans work with a family member or friend to develop a secure storage plan for firearms during a mental health crisis. Studies have found that storing both guns and ammunition safely lowers the risk of self-inflicted gun injuries by 78%. Early evidence suggests that involving family or friends in creating a storage plan enhances the effectiveness of these safety measures. Safe storage methods are crucial for preventing suicide because they delay access to guns, reducing the likelihood of impulsive actions. Overall, secure storage is an effective way to prevent gun-related injuries and deaths.16789
Who Is on the Research Team?
Bryann R DeBeer, PhD
Principal Investigator
Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center, Aurora, CO
Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?
This trial is for Veterans and their close family members or significant others who want to learn about safe firearm storage to help prevent suicide. Participants should be willing to discuss mental health crisis planning and firearm safety.Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
Timeline for a Trial Participant
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Intervention
Participants engage in a single-session intervention to create a secure storage plan for firearms with a CSO
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for secure firearm storage practices and preparedness for a mental health crisis
What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?
Interventions
- Family Firearms Secure Storage Training (FFAST) Intervention
Trial Overview
The study compares a single-session Family Firearms Secure Storage Training (FFAST) intervention, which teaches secure gun storage and crisis planning, against standard health and stress counseling. The goal is to see which better promotes safe practices.
How Is the Trial Designed?
3
Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
FAST is a brief, single-session intervention where Veterans collaborate with a family member or friend (referred to as a concerned significant other; CSO) to create a secure storage plan for firearms in the event they ever experience a mental health crisis.
Participants will participate in an intervention similar in length and delivery of the experimental condition, however the intervention does not focus on lethal means safety, secure storage of firearms, or suicide prevention.
In the waitlist control condition, participants will be assigned to complete either FFAST or HSC 6-months after the start of the study. Their data for those 6 months will be compared to the intervention (FFAST) and the active control (HSC). This will allow researchers to compare the results of those who are assigned to either FFAST, HSC, or nothing, while still providing participants an active condition at a later time.
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
VA Office of Research and Development
Lead Sponsor
VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System
Collaborator
US Department of Veterans Affairs
Collaborator
Citations
Testing Family Firearm Secure Storage Training (FFAST) to ...
Specific Aims: Objective 1) Examine the relative effectiveness of FFAST against both active (i.e., Health and Stress Counseling) and waitlist ...
Engaging suicide prevention and firearm stakeholders in ...
This paper describes the development of a workshop to empower loved ones of individuals at risk for suicide to discuss secure firearm storage in New York State.
Family Resources | Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention
When both firearms and ammunition are stored safely, children have a 78% lower risk of self-inflicted firearm injuries and an 85% lower risk of unintentional ...
Involving Concerned Significant Others in Firearm Suicide ...
The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the YOLO-NAS L/M/S approach, highlighting its potential for integration into advanced surveillance ...
Development of an intervention to incentivize secure firearm ...
Importantly, we do not yet have data demonstrating that incentives improve secure firearm storage or decrease suicidal behavior.
Involving Concerned Significant Others in Firearm Suicide ...
Observations: The Family FireArms Secure Storage Training (FFAST) intervention was developed for veterans who do not securely store firearms.
Store Safely: A firearm injury prevention strategy for rural ...
97.7% completed the intervention … 40% of participants reported improving their storage, offering examples such as purchasing gun locks, safes, or lockboxes; ...
8.
publichealth.jhu.edu
publichealth.jhu.edu/center-for-gun-violence-solutions/lethal-means-safety-counselingLethal Means Safety Counseling | Center for Gun Violence ...
A study found that patients who received a physician's verbal or written safe firearm storage recommendation were 3x more likely to make safe changes in firearm ...
9.
militaryfamilies.psu.edu
militaryfamilies.psu.edu/resources/view/an-overview-of-the-research-of-firearm-storage-in-military-families/An Overview of the Research of Firearm Storage in Military ...
most veterans in the study (81.9%) indicated a willingness to limit firearm access if a household member was deemed to be suicidal.
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