Retreat-Based Program for Violence-Exposed Women Veterans

Given their elevated risk for suicide and barriers to engaging in VHA healthcare, violence-exposed women Veterans represent a specialized population for which expansions to current VHA programming are needed. This pilot study is to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of the Growth, Resilience, Insight, and Togetherness (GRIT), a therapeutic retreat program developed with and for Veteran women, to improve social functioning as a potential upstream suicide prevention strategy in comparison to a self-guided program. If found acceptable and feasible, data gathered will inform subsequent program development and identify avenues for further research on use of retreats grounded in Whole Health principles for additional subpopulations of women Veterans and/or other high-risk populations that may benefit.