Assisting in Decisions in Emergency Departments: (ED-AID) Study

Limiting access to a firearms during suicidal crisis can save lives. This study will test a
patient decision aid about safe firearm storage during crisis. The investigators will enroll
60 adult emergency department patients being evaluated for suicidal risk and have at least
one firearm at home. If available, the investigators will also enroll a family member or
friend. Participants will randomly receive one of two things: the decision aid or general
suicide prevention information. A week later, the investigators will call participants to see
how both groups choose to store their firearms. This trial tests the acceptability of the
decision aid, effects on decision making, effect on home storage, effect on suicide outcomes,
and feasibility of a larger trial. The investigators hypothesize that participants with
higher quality decisions after the decision aid will be more likely to change their firearm
storage to reduce access during the time of crisis; should the pilot demonstrate feasibility,
in a subsequent larger trial this hypothesis would be tested directly.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Being evaluated in the emergency department for suicidal ideation/suicide attempt

- Deemed medically stable by ED physician

- Age greater than or equal to 18 years old

- Able and willing to have telephone follow up at 1 week

- Report at least one firearm in the home

Exclusion Criteria:

- Unable to participate medically or cognitively (e.g. sustained altered level of
consciousness, hostility, psychosis, sexual assault victim, severe vomiting or pain)

- Currently in legal custody

- Live in group home or other supervised custody

- Already enrolled