Treatments and Services Suicide and Trauma Reduction Initiative I Ohio State College of Medicine

Are you or someone you know in need of assistance with psychological health or trauma-related issues? STRIVE provides effective treatment for suicidal thoughts, suicidal behaviors, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We offer a range of treatment programs featuring leading therapies, specifically designed for service members and veterans, all at no cost to participants. Some of these programs are clinical research trials that evaluate new treatment methods, enhance existing treatments, or explore innovative delivery methods. Other programs provide clinical care with top treatments, funded by donors or grants.

To learn more about currently recruiting projects, click on Participate in STRIVE below.

Trauma and PTSD

Sometimes things happen to people that are unusually or especially frightening, horrible or traumatic. For example:

Serious accident or fire
Physical or sexual assault or abuse
Earthquake or flood
War
Seeing someone be killed or seriously injured
Having a loved one die through homicide or suicide

Have you ever experienced this kind of event? If yes, have you experienced any of the following in the past month:

Had a nightmare about the stressful or traumatic event or thought about the event when you didn’t want to?
Tried hard not to think about the event, or gone out of your way to avoid situations that reminded you of the event?
Been constantly on guard, watchful or easily startled
Felt numb or detached from people, activities or your surroundings
Felt guilty or unable to stop blaming yourself or others for the event or any problems that event may have caused

If you answered "yes" to at least 3 of these questions, we may be able to help.

Thoughts of Suicide

In the past month, have you...

Wished that you were dead
Thought about killing yourself
Tried to kill yourself
Tried to kill yourself but then called for help
Been very close to killing yourself but at the last minute, you stopped yourself or someone else stopped you
Done anything to prepare to kill yourself

If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, contact STRIVE to see if we can help.

PARTICIPATE IN STRIVE CLINICIAN REFERRAL

R&R Program

The R&R program provides state-of-the-art psychological treatment for current service members and veterans experiencing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) related to exposure to military and nonmilitary related traumatic events. All veterans are eligible regardless of the era or discharge status.

The R&R program’s predominant treatment for PTSD is cognitive processing therapy (CPT). CPT is very effective and is one of only a few therapies endorsed by the Department of Defense (DoD), Veterans Affairs (VA) and the National Academy of Medicine. CPT is a 12-session treatment where you meet individually with one of our well-trained clinicians for 60-minute sessions. Participants in the R&R program will be enrolled in a research study to help us improve our treatment outcomes and better understand how to help veterans overcome PTSD. As part of this study, we will conduct assessments with you and ask you to complete various questionnaires before, during and after treatment.

To determine your eligibility to participate in the study, you will need to complete an online screener and diagnostic interview to confirm your diagnosis of PTSD. You will be compensated for your time when completing post-treatment assessments.

Through R&R, we are able to offer in two formats:

R&R Tele-Health

R&R Tele-Health is a daily treatment program that lasts two weeks. You will meet individually with one of our clinicians for 10 sessions of CPT via tele-health. Materials and log-in information will be mailed to the study participant. The participant will coordinate daily appointment times with the designated clinician.

R&R OSU campus

R&R OSU Campus is temporarily suspended due to COVID-19 cases. However, we hope to start up again as soon as people are vaccinated and or the number of COVID-19 cases begin to diminish.

The R&R OSU campus daily treatment program lasts two weeks. You will meet individually with one of our clinicians each day for 10 sessions.

The afternoons are for participants to enjoy and explore what the great city of Columbus has to offer.
Lodging, food and airport transportation are provided free of cost. Lodging will be provided at a local hotel, and there’s free transportation from the airport to the hotel and between the hotel and STRIVE’s offices. A per diem or meal vouchers will be covered by the R&R program.
Costs to participants include a rental car, if one is desired. Family members are welcome to come out to support the participants; however, participants are responsible for their family members’ airfare, food and any additional lodging. No family therapy is available at this time.

Cost of airfare may be eligible for reimbursement upon arrival in Ohio for the participants.

“I was able to set aside my fear, looking over my shoulder, expecting the worst out of humanity. I’ve been given back my ability to smile, to laugh and, most of all, to engage with my family.” Air Force PJ

“Over 40 years with PTSD; who am I if I don’t have PTSD? I am now a man who believes in hope and idealism and wants to become a better person, finding happiness and inner peace.” Jim

“I am so happy to see him find a new vision of himself.” Melanie Jim’s wife

BCBT for Suicide program

The STRIVE BCBT program provides state-of-the-art psychological treatment for current service members, veterans, first responders (e.g., law enforcement officers, dispatchers, firefighters and paramedics) without a military history, and their family who are experiencing symptoms of suicidal thought and behaviors (STB).

Serving Those Who Serve

Veterans and First Responders who go through our studies help STRIVE find the answers to how we can make treatments better, faster and stronger for those that follow.

It is through generous contributions that STRIVE can provide quality, life-saving treatment studies at no cost to the service members, veterans, first responders and their families. If you are interested in participating in one of our studies or want to sponsor a veteran/first responder to attend, please fill out the following form:

PARTICIPATE IN STRIVE

DONATE

If you want to refer a patient send an email to STRIVE@osumc.edu.