Web-Based Provider Training for Brief Cognitive Behavior Therapy (BCBT) for Suicide Prevention
Abstract
This proposal addresses the Fiscal Year 2022 Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program Portfolio category of Neuroscience, Topic Area of Suicide Prevention, and Strategic Goal of Develop and test treatment strategies to manage symptoms and improve quality of life for those affected by associated neurological and psychological conditions. We plan to do this by developing and disseminating a web-based platform that will enable providers to access expert training in Brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (BCBT) and Crisis Response Planning (CRP), two evidence-based suicide prevention treatments. Critical Problem to Be Addressed: Suicide rates in the United States remain elevated with over 12 million civilians in 2020 reporting suicidal ideation, 3 million making a suicide plan, and 1 million attempting suicide. Suicide rates for military and Veterans are alarmingly high, with recent data suggesting military and Veteran suicide rates are more than double that of the general U.S. population. Therefore, suicide remains a pressing public health concern, particularly among military personnel and Veterans, prompting researchers to develop and test treatments for vulnerable individuals. Two evidence-based suicide prevention treatments, Brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (BCBT) and Crisis Response Plan (CRP), have been demonstrated to be effective in reducing suicide related behaviors; however, few mental health providers within the Defense Health Agency (DHA) are trained to deliver these interventions. In response to the lack of trained providers in BCBT and CRP within the DHA, the overall objective of this proposed project seeks to reduce suicide risk in at-risk Service Members through the development, implementation, and dissemination of BCBTweb. BCBTweb will be an efficient and user-friendly web-based training platform that will enable military behavioral health providers to access online trainings in BCBT and CRP from anywhere with internet access. The proposed project will develop and evaluate a web-based training program for BCBT and CRP building upon our experience developing other, successful web-based trainings for evidence-based treatments. The web-based training, BCBTweb, will be fully sustainable and accessible with minimal costs and time constraints for providers. BCBTweb will be built and refined over five strategic phases. The inception phase will bring together leaders in the field of military suicide prevention to provide input on the BCBT manual and scripts for the training videos. In the iteration phase, agency leaders, decision-maker consultants, and 50 providers will complete BCBTweb testing and provide feedback, after which revisions will be made. In the release phase, 100 providers will complete additional testing and will provide feedback, after which more revisions will be made. In the production phase, 200 providers will complete either BCBTweb or a live workshop. Provider reactions/satisfaction, learning will be compared as well as provider fidelity as assessed through simulated treatment sessions with a standardized patient. The immediate impact of this proposed project will be the dissemination of BCBT and CRP training via BCBTweb to current military, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and civilian providers. In the DHA alone there are approximately 3,000 behavioral health providers who would be given the opportunity to access this training and deliver the therapy to over 270,000 Service Members struggling with suicide ideation and/or related behaviors. Previous web-based trainings developed by our team have trained over 6,500 providers within the first 2 years of launching the website. Providers reported previous web-based trainings as highly positive, noting advantages over traditional in-person trainings like on-demand access to the training materials that can be reviewed as needed. The use of internet technology to increase reach and efficiency of offering an interactive and expert-led online t
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jan 04, 2024
- Source ID
- HT94252310299
Entities
People
- Justin T Baker
Organizations
- Ohio State University
- United States Army