Preferences of US Veterans making and receiving Caring Cards: A peer approach to recovery-oriented suicide prevention
Abstract: Caring Cards is a peer adaptation of caring contacts for suicide prevention in which people with lived experience of suicidal thoughts and behaviors create handmade cards for peers currently experiencing suicidal thoughts and/or behaviors. The present study used data from a feasibility/acceptability study of Caring Cards at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center to explore preferences for this type of recovery-oriented suicide prevention intervention. Participants were 55 veterans with a past (card makers, n = 21) or current (card recipients, n = 34) high-risk indication for suicide. Card makers participated in a 3-month weekly 60- to 120-min group therapy to create cards. Card recipients received these cards monthly for 6 months. Survey and interview data were collected postintervention. Pragmatic analysis of interview responses revealed preferences related to participation length, card content and frequency, group formatting, and accessibility. Among both card makers (76.2%–85.7%) and card recipients (94.1%), a majority recommended offering this intervention for veterans who have previously or are currently struggling with mental health concerns. Over 60% of card makers wanted to receive cards, and 52.9% of card recipients wanted to make cards. These data further support the importance of lived experience voices in intervention development. Caring Cards, an intervention specifically focusing on improving well-being, meaning-making, and fulfillment in one’s life, regards veteran preferences as salient in the future implementation of a recovery-oriented approach to suicide prevention.— Clinical Impact Statement—The Caring Cards intervention specifically focuses on improving well-being, meaning-making, and fulfillment in one’s life—all of which are salient to a recovery-oriented approach to suicide prevention. Preferences from card makers and card recipients are considered to enhance the intervention.