Campaign Use to Increase Treatment Initiation in US Veterans Transitioning From Military Service.

Abstract

<b>Objectives.</b> To test if public messaging increases treatment initiation in US veterans at risk for suicide within the first 3 years following military separation. <b>Methods.</b> MiliStories, a campaign featuring 4 brief video-based messages targeting the decision to seek treatment, was tested in a remote clinical trial in the United States from December 2022 to June 2025 with a random sample of treatment-naïve veterans endorsing moderate psychological distress (n = 355). Participants completed baseline assessment by telephone and were randomized to the intervention or to a waitlist control. Participants were exposed to messaging each week through a mobile app for 1 month. Follow-up assessments were collected at 1 and 2 months. The primary outcome was the initiation of mental health treatment. An intent-to-treat analysis was conducted using generalized estimating equations with a logit link function comparing the odds of initiating treatment between intervention and control. <b>Results.</b> Participants receiving the intervention were nearly twice as likely to enter treatment as the waitlist control at 2-month follow-up. The number needed to treat was 15. <b>Conclusions.</b> Messaging may hold promise to engage vulnerable populations during transition from military service. (<i>Am J Public Health</i>. Published online ahead of print August 20, 2026:e1-e10. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2026.308627).