Table 2:
SAFER Intervention Sessions
| Joining Sessions | - Held separately with the Veteran and supporting partner - Serves to gather background information, clarify treatment goals, assess motivation and identify any individual or couple issues that may impact the treatment. |
| Session #1 | -Focuses on an educational overview on Veteran suicide and SPI - Didactic material is provided on Veteran suicide, risk assessment and importance of managing suicidal urges - Participants guided to monitor the Veteran’s mood and other identified risk factors unique to each Veteran, which is reviewed at the beginning of all subsequent sessions. |
| Session #2 | -Focuses on SPI from the Veteran’s perspective - Explores potential obstacles to engaging the supporting partner in SPI. - Veteran describes each step of their SPI to their supporting partner. - Homework is assigned which entails Veteran compiling a “reasons for living” list and supporting partner compiles a list of “reasons for living” for the Veteran and a self-care list for themselves. |
| Session #3 | -Focuses on maximizing social support for the Veteran - Creation of a parallel supporting partner’s SPI constructed collaboratively with the Veteran - Troubleshooting of potential problems in implementation are identified and addressed. - Discussion of how and when to practice using the Safety Planning Intervention - Session ends with members of the dyad sharing their homework - Homework is assigned for session 4 is to practice using communication skills to facilitate use of the SPI and to record the results |
| Session #4 | -Serves as a booster to allow more time for practice of the SPI and skills - Focuses on review of communication skills both in general and particularly in the context of Veteran’s and supporting partner’s SPI use - Identifying and problem-solving obstacles to usage of SPI by either member of the dyad - Communication skills (e.g., validation and active listening) are reviewed and then role plays to practice skills - Emphasizes the value of a weekly, scheduled SPI check-in meetings |