At the Veterans Health Research Institute of CNY, Inc., we are proud to be part of a groundbreaking national research collaboration aimed at preventing suicide among veterans recently discharged from psychiatric hospitalization—one of the most vulnerable populations across the VA health system.

Thanks to a $3.1 million grant from the Warren Alpert Foundation, our team—led by Dr. Todd Bishop, a leading investigator at the VA Center of Excellence for Suicide Prevention—is partnering with researchers from Harvard Medical School and Brown University to evaluate a promising new approach: the Coping Long Term with Active Suicide Program (CLASP).

This study, one of the largest of its kind, enrolled veterans from seven VA inpatient psychiatric units nationwide. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either CLASP’s structured, remote post-discharge support or standard care. In total, over 850 veterans are part of this important trial.

We are investigating whether CLASP can significantly reduce suicide-related behaviors—including deaths by suicide, overdose, and nonfatal attempts—in the critical six months following discharge. We are also analyzing how patient characteristics and care environments impact outcomes.

At the Veterans Health Research Institute of CNY, Inc., we are committed to innovative, data-driven solutions that directly improve the lives of veterans and their families. The CLASP study exemplifies our mission: advancing evidence-based care that supports our veterans when they need it most.