THRIVE: A Recovery-Focused Suicide Prevention Intervention in Crisis Stabilization Centers

The study is designed to determine whether Toward Hope, Recovery, Interpersonal Growth, Values, and Engagement (THRIVE), a brief, recovery-focused group psychotherapy intervention initiated during a Crisis Stabilization Center (CSC) stay and continued by peer-support specialists during the six-week transition back to the community can reduce post-discharge suicide risk events (SREs) while improving treatment engagement and recovery. Findings will also provide information about the ways THRIVE may work and the factors that may support or hinder its implementation in community-based crisis care settings. Effectiveness. The primary aim of this study is to determine whether THRIVE reduces SREs during the 12 months following CSC discharge. A total of 552 CSC participants will be randomized to receive either Care as Usual (CAU) or CAU plus THRIVE. CAU includes routine CSC services, including medication management, safety planning, referral to outpatient treatment, and a post-discharge follow-up contact. Participants assigned to CAU plus THRIVE will receive these services in addition to the THRIVE psychotherapy group and six post-discharge peer recovery coaching calls. Participants will complete assessments at baseline and discharge, weekly during the first 6 weeks after discharge, and at 3, 6, and 12 months. The primary outcome is SREs post discharge, the total aggregated occurrences of crisis care events including re-admissions, escalation to higher levels of care, suicide attempts, and suicide deaths. Mechanisms. A secondary aim is to examine the psychological and behavioral processes through which THRIVE may reduce SREs post-discharge. Consistent with the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide, the study will examine whether THRIVE improves perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness, and whether it increases treatment initiation and engagement following CSC discharge. Our study will evaluate whether changes in these factors help explain the relationship between THRIVE participation and subsequent suicide risk events. Implementation. The study will also evaluate barriers and facilitators to implementing THRIVE in routine CSC practice. A mixed-methods implementation evaluation guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) will examine factors associated with intervention adoption and delivery across the three participating CSCs.