OIBR Affiliate Brian Bauer and OIBR Distinguished Scholar Justin Lavner, both clinical psychology faculty at the University of Georgia, are leading an innovative study aimed at helping veterans and their romantic partners manage mental health crises. Funded by the Department of Defense, the project introduces a novel intervention called Couple-Based Crisis Response Planning (CRP-C) that focuses on reducing crisis symptoms to ultimately decrease suicide risk. Crisis Response Planning and Its Evolution Crisis Response Planning (CRP) is an evidence-based intervention designed to teach individuals how to recognize warning signs of an impending mental health crisis and how to cope effectively. While CRP has been effective in reducing suicidal behaviors, Bauer and Lavner aim to enhance it by incorporating veterans’ partners into the planning process. Research shows that intimate partners are often the first people veterans confide in during mental health crises, yet they are rarely part of traditional interventions. CRP-C seeks to change this by creating a shared safety plan between veterans and their partners. By involving both individuals, the intervention hopes to provide stronger support and better early detection of crisis symptoms, ultimately reducing the risk of suicide. Targeting Crisis Symptoms and Reducing Stigma One of the study’s key innovations is its focus on crisis symptoms—acute changes in agitation, irritability, insomnia, and social withdrawal—rather than explicit suicidal ideation. Many veterans are hesitant to disclose suicidal thoughts due to stigma, making it challenging for traditional interventions to reach them. Bauer and Lavner’s approach to targeting these less-stigmatized symptoms seeks to engage a broader population of veterans who may not openly seek help but still show early signs of a potential crisis. Additionally, the researchers are testing how to effectively advertise the CRP-C. They believe that presenting it as a way to manage early crisis symptoms, rather than suicide prevention, will make veterans more comfortable participating in the program. Read the full article Veteran Suicide Prevention Research: Harnessing the Power of Intimate Partner Support, written by Andrea Horsman
