Spotlight Research 12 - Innovative Adaptations to the Implementation of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Suicide Prevention (CBT-SP) Within the Veteran Affairs’ Suicide Prevention Clinical Telehealth Program

The goal of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Suicide Prevention (CBT-SP) is to mitigate future suicidal behaviors by generating new, alternative ways of thinking and behaving, while increasing hope, reasons for living, and self-efficacy at managing suicidal crises. CBT for the treatment of suicidal ideation and behaviors has demonstrated moderate empirical success (Leavey & Hawkins, 2017). In fact, CBT for suicide prevention is one of the most strongly recommended evidence-based practices (EBP) by the Veteran Affairs (VA)/Department of Defense Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Assessment and Management of Patients at Risk for Suicide.
As part of the VA’s 2018 National Strategy for Preventing Veteran Suicide public health approach, CBT-SP is one of four EBPs that suicide prevention (SP) therapists are trained in using a fully virtual format. Collaborations with community and VA experts in suicide prevention research and clinical practices led to the telehealth adaptations and implementation of CBT-SP for Veterans with a recent history of suicidal self-directed violent behavior. Since the original launch of CBT-SP in the VA in 2021, adaptations to reduce provider burden while maximizing clinical rigor has included reduction of training workshop hours, increased experiential and real-life clinical application with consultation opportunities, and formalized consultant and co-trainer trainings. Furthermore, cross-collaboration with a diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) subject matter expert led to the adaptation and integration of DEI-informed training and clinical materials. In 2024, the CBT-SP training program is launching an innovative e-learning training workshop with live behavioral rehearsal applications to determine if learning objectives and rigorous delivery of gold-standard care for Veterans can be maintained in this format. This presentation will provide a brief historic review and supporting data of the implementation and adaptation efforts of the CBT-SP program which led to the unique, innovative asynchronous e-learning model of suicide prevention EBP training to SP therapists. Evaluation data from these therapists will be presented and discussion of additional implementation steps informed by such data will occur.