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Qnnections: Refinement and Pilot Trial of a Suicide Prevention Intervention to Increase Social Connection

Sponsor: VA Office of Research and Development • ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT06803329

Registry updated: 2026-09-04

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Description

Despite the high risk of suicide among LGBTQ+ Veterans, there is currently no suicide-focused intervention for this population. This study will refine and pilot Qnnections, a novel group-based suicide prevention intervention that aims to increase social connection and functioning in this population. The project will involve Veterans with lived experience in further refining Qnnections, and then will examine feasibility and acceptability of Qnnections and of study procedures in a pilot randomized clinical trial.

Interventions

Qnnections (Behavioral)
A novel group-based suicide prevention intervention that augments standard VA mental health services for LGBTQ+ Veterans with current suicidal thoughts or recent suicidal behavior. Informed by the empirically-supported theoretical framework of the interpersonal theory of suicide and prior work tailoring interventions for minority stress, Qnnections is a structured 10-week group that uses a cognitive behavioral framework to target perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness. Veterans will also receive safety planning and referrals.
Enhanced Usual Care (Behavioral)
The active control condition includes: 1) VA Safety Planning Intervention and 2) referrals to VA and non-VA services relevant to the individual. The safety plan will be conducted by Dr. Chang, a licensed psychologist. Therefore, EUC only differs from the Qnnections condition as it does not have the 10-session Qnnections intervention. EUC is intended to include elements of VA suicide prevention standard practice. The control condition is considered enhanced as all participants will receive these elements, whereas Veterans are not guaranteed to receive all of these services if not enrolled in this study.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria: * Veterans who report past-month active suicidal ideation (C-SSRS \[Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale\] \-- or past-3-month suicidal behavior; * LGBTQ+ or other minoritized gender or sexual identity; * Have a mental health point-of-contact (e.g., Suicide Prevention Coordinator, Mental Health Treatment Coordinator); * Willing to complete or update safety plan. Exclusion Criteria: * cannot provide informed consent; * imminent psychiatric hospitalization; * current or planned participation in residential/intensive outpatient program that would interfere study participation; * in a conservatorship; and * has participated in any previous parts of the study.

Conditions

Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors Social Isolation

Locations

VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA — San Diego, California, United States

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Official Source

Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov, a service of the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

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