Testing Family Firearm Secure Storage Training (FFAST) to Prevent Suicide

Firearms are the lethal means used in over 70% of Veteran suicides with rates of Veteran deaths via self-induced firearm injury rising dramatically (by 64.8%) from 2001 to 2022. Upstream, evidence-based lethal means safety interventions are urgently needed within the VA to address this serious issue. The Family Firearms Secure Storage Training (FFAST) intervention consists of single session in which Veterans and their concerned significant others (CSOs) are guided through a discussion on secure firearm storage practices and develop a safety plan to prepare them for a mental health crisis. This study aims to evaluate the relative effectiveness of FFAST against a control condition in promoting secure firearm storage planning, preparedness for a mental health crisis, and secure storage practices within Veterans and their CSOs. In addition, barriers and facilitating factors of implementing FFAST within the VA Caregiver Support Program and Suicide Prevention 2.0 will be examined to aid in the widespread adoption of FFAST across the VA.

NCT Number	NCT07692854
Lead Sponsor	VA Office of Research and Development Collaborators: VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System
Conditions	Lethal Means Safety, Brief Intervention, Concern Significant Others
Enrollment	176 participants
Start Date	2026-10-01
Primary Completion	2030-06-01 (estimated)
Study Completion	2030-09-30 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2026-07-16