Caring Letters Project: a military suicide-prevention pilot program. 2012

David D Luxton, and Julie T Kinn, and Jennifer D June, and Laura W Pierre, and Mark A Reger, and Gregory A Gahm
National Center for Telehealth & Technology (T2), Tacoma, WA 98431, USA. david.luxton@us.army.mil

BACKGROUND The Caring Letters Project (CLP) is a suicide prevention program that involves sending brief caring letters to discharged inpatients following psychiatric hospitalization. Several studies suggest that repeatedly sending caring messages may reduce suicides and suicide attempts in high-risk populations. OBJECTIVE The aims of this study were to (1) evaluate feasibility of use in the military setting, (2) explore trends toward reduction of psychiatric rehospitalizations, (3) assess preference for and test e-mail correspondence, and (4) identify best practices and gather data to inform a randomized controlled study. METHODS A total of 110 psychiatric inpatients at a military treatment facility consented, were interviewed, and then received personalized handwritten letters or e-mails at regular intervals following discharge. Data collected included demographics, clinical characteristics, preference for e-mail versus postal mail, rates of undeliverable and return correspondence, rehospitalizations, and adverse events requiring safety procedures. RESULTS A total of 436 letters and e-mails have been sent to date. Most participants indicated preference for e-mail versus postal mail. Fifteen participants were readmitted for treatment compared to 20 patients in usual care. Twenty participants sent responses and all were positive statements about the program. There were no adverse events. CONCLUSIONS This program is feasible for use at a military treatment facility. A randomized controlled trial is needed to determine whether the intervention can reduce suicide rates among military and veteran populations.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008889 Military Personnel Persons including soldiers involved with the armed forces. Air Force Personnel,Armed Forces Personnel,Army Personnel,Coast Guard,Marines,Navy Personnel,Sailors,Soldiers,Submariners,Military,Force Personnel, Air,Personnel, Air Force,Personnel, Armed Forces,Personnel, Army,Personnel, Military,Personnel, Navy,Sailor,Soldier,Submariner
D010865 Pilot Projects Small-scale tests of methods and procedures to be used on a larger scale if the pilot study demonstrates that these methods and procedures can work. Pilot Studies,Pilot Study,Pilot Project,Project, Pilot,Projects, Pilot,Studies, Pilot,Study, Pilot
D011177 Postal Service The functions and activities carried out by the U.S. Postal Service, foreign postal services, and private postal services such as Federal Express. Mail,Mail Distribution,Mail-Order,Service, Postal,Distribution, Mail,Distributions, Mail,Mail Distributions,Mail Order,Mail-Orders,Mails,Postal Services,Services, Postal
D011569 Psychiatric Status Rating Scales Standardized procedures utilizing rating scales or interview schedules carried out by health personnel for evaluating the degree of mental illness. Factor Construct Rating Scales (FCRS),Katz Adjustment Scales,Lorr's Inpatient Multidimensional Psychiatric Rating Scale,Wittenborn Scales,Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale,Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview
D011795 Surveys and Questionnaires Collections of data obtained from voluntary subjects. The information usually takes the form of answers to questions, or suggestions. Community Survey,Nonrespondent,Questionnaire,Questionnaires,Respondent,Survey,Survey Method,Survey Methods,Surveys,Baseline Survey,Community Surveys,Methodology, Survey,Nonrespondents,Questionnaire Design,Randomized Response Technique,Repeated Rounds of Survey,Respondents,Survey Methodology,Baseline Surveys,Design, Questionnaire,Designs, Questionnaire,Methods, Survey,Questionnaire Designs,Questionnaires and Surveys,Randomized Response Techniques,Response Technique, Randomized,Response Techniques, Randomized,Survey, Baseline,Survey, Community,Surveys, Baseline,Surveys, Community,Techniques, Randomized Response
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000092864 Suicide Prevention Specific strategies for averting suicides. These include mental HEALTH PROMOTION and monitoring PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING and other intervention programs targeting susceptible individuals. Suicide Awareness,Awareness, Suicide,Prevention, Suicide,Suicide Preventions
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults

Related Publications

David D Luxton, and Julie T Kinn, and Jennifer D June, and Laura W Pierre, and Mark A Reger, and Gregory A Gahm
February 2024, Psychological services,
David D Luxton, and Julie T Kinn, and Jennifer D June, and Laura W Pierre, and Mark A Reger, and Gregory A Gahm
September 1979, Military medicine,
David D Luxton, and Julie T Kinn, and Jennifer D June, and Laura W Pierre, and Mark A Reger, and Gregory A Gahm
June 2022, Health services research,
David D Luxton, and Julie T Kinn, and Jennifer D June, and Laura W Pierre, and Mark A Reger, and Gregory A Gahm
December 2023, Psychiatric services (Washington, D.C.),
David D Luxton, and Julie T Kinn, and Jennifer D June, and Laura W Pierre, and Mark A Reger, and Gregory A Gahm
March 2014, Contemporary clinical trials,
David D Luxton, and Julie T Kinn, and Jennifer D June, and Laura W Pierre, and Mark A Reger, and Gregory A Gahm
February 2020, Suicide & life-threatening behavior,
David D Luxton, and Julie T Kinn, and Jennifer D June, and Laura W Pierre, and Mark A Reger, and Gregory A Gahm
January 2023, Psychological services,
David D Luxton, and Julie T Kinn, and Jennifer D June, and Laura W Pierre, and Mark A Reger, and Gregory A Gahm
January 1989, Child welfare,
David D Luxton, and Julie T Kinn, and Jennifer D June, and Laura W Pierre, and Mark A Reger, and Gregory A Gahm
March 2021, International journal of environmental research and public health,
David D Luxton, and Julie T Kinn, and Jennifer D June, and Laura W Pierre, and Mark A Reger, and Gregory A Gahm
February 2011, La Revue du praticien,
Copied contents to your clipboard!