Pilot evaluation of the online ‘Chaplains-CARE’ program: Enhancing skills for United States military suicide intervention practices and care
Research Report:
Research SummaryAPA Citation:
Lee-Tauler, S. Y., Grammer, J., LaCroix, J. M., Walsh, A. K., Clark, S. E., Holloway, K. J., …Ghahramanlou-Holloway, M. (2023). Pilot evaluation of the online ‘Chaplains-CARE’ program: Enhancing skills for United States military suicide intervention practices and care. Journal of Religion and Health, 62(6), 3856-3873. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-023-01882-9
Abstract Created by REACH:
Chaplains-CARE Online is a 6-hour virtual course that prepares military chaplains to intervene with suicidal Service members or Veterans by teaching suicide intervention skills, such as reflective and non-judgmental listening, identifying triggers, safety planning, and identifying social network support. This pilot study included 76 chaplains who participated in the course and completed evaluation feedback afterwards. Chaplains rated the course’s helpfulness, ease of use, relevance, and applicability. They also responded to open-ended questions about the usefulness of specific course features. Overall, chaplains found Chaplains-CARE Online to be a useful and relevant course.
Focus:
Programming
Mental health
Veterans
Branch of Service:
Multiple branches
Military Affiliation:
Active Duty
Veteran
Subject Affiliation:
Active duty service member
Veteran
Military non-medical service providers
Population:
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)
Methodology:
Mixed Methods
Quantitative Study
Qualitative Study
Authors:
Lee-Tauler, Su Yeon, Grammer, Joseph, LaCroix, Jessica M., Walsh, Adam K., Clark, Sandra Elizabeth, Holloway, Kathryn J., Sundararaman, Ramya, Carter, Chaplain K. Madison, Crouterfield, Chaplain Bruce, Hazlett, Chaplain Gregory R., Hess, Chaplain Robert M., Miyahara, Chaplain John M., Varsogea, Chaplain Charles E., Whalen, Chaplain Christilene, Ghahramanlou-Holloway, Marjan
Abstract:
Chaplains frequently serve as first responders for United States military personnel experiencing suicidal thoughts and behaviors. The Chaplains-CARE Program, a self-paced, e-learning course grounded in suicide-focused cognitive behavioral therapy principles, was tailored for United States military chaplains to enhance their suicide intervention skills. A pilot program evaluation gathered 76 Department of Defense (DoD), Veterans Affairs (VA), and international military chaplain learners’ responses. Most learners indicated that the course was helpful, easy to use, relevant, applicable, and that they were likely to recommend it to other chaplains. Based on open-ended responses, one-quarter (25.0%) of learners indicated that all content was useful, and over one-quarter (26.3%) of learners highlighted the usefulness of the self-care module. One-third (30.3%) of learners reported the usefulness of the interactive e-learning features, while others (26.3%) highlighted the usefulness of chaplains’ role play demonstrations, which portrayed counseling scenarios with service members. Suggested areas of improvement include specific course adaptation for VA chaplains and further incorporation of experiential learning and spiritual care principles. The pilot findings suggest that Chaplains-CARE Online was perceived as a useful suicide intervention training for chaplains. Future training can be enhanced by providing experiential, simulation-based practice of suicide intervention skills.
Publisher/Sponsoring Organization:
Springer Link
Publication Type:
Article
REACH Publication
Author Affiliation:
Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Department of Psychiatry, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, SYLT
Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Department of Psychiatry, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, JG
Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Department of Psychiatry, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, JML
Defense Suicide Prevention Office, AKW
Defense Suicide Prevention Office, SEC
Defense Suicide Prevention Office, KJH
Defense Suicide Prevention Office, RS
Department of the Navy, United States Navy Chaplain Corps, KMC
Department of the Navy, United States Navy Chaplain Corps, BC
Department of the Navy, United States Navy Chaplain Corps, GRH
Department of the Navy, United States Navy Chaplain Corps, RMH
Department of the Navy, United States Navy Chaplain Corps, JMM
Department of the Navy, United States Navy Chaplain Corps, CEV
Department of the Navy, United States Navy Chaplain Corps, CW
Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Department of Psychiatry, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, MGH
Keywords:
chaplain, suicide, intervention
REACH Publication Type:
Research Summary
Sponsors:
The Chaplains-CARE Program was supported by the Defense Suicide Prevention Office (DSPO) under grant HU00011920100.
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