Current Research Initiatives
TAPS provides care to grieving military family members using best practices in peer-based emotional support, principles upon which the organization was founded.
TAPS has been recognized by the Association of Death Education and Counseling (ADEC) with the Clinical Practice Award for its work in the field of thanatology. Receiving this award acknowledges the work of TAPS with expertise in clinical practice specific to dying, death, and bereavement as demonstrated by: honors, awards, reputation in the nominee's area of specialization, judgment by peers, supervisors, and/or administrators, and clients.
Listed below are the current research initiatives we are working on with our grief professional partners. We invite you to take any surveys listed below if applicable to your specific circumstance.
TAPS Survivor Journey Map
The Survivor Journey Map offers a comprehensive framework tailored for military and veteran survivors across various generations, circumstances of death, and connections to the deceased. Our approach delves deep into the intricate aspects of loss, drawing insights from empirical surveys, thirty years of engagement with the families of America's fallen heroes, and a broad spectrum of demographic data. Additionally, this map takes into consideration social determinants of health, encompassing factors such as socioeconomic status, healthcare accessibility, education, and community support. It serves as a valuable resource, reflecting the diverse support needs of those grappling with grief and trauma. Through its visual representation, the journey map strives to enhance comprehension of grief and loss, facilitating more meaningful and comprehensive comfort and aid for individuals mourning the loss of a military or veteran loved one.
Perceived Effectiveness of Postvention Programs for Family Members Experiencing Military Service-Related Suicide: A Narrative Study
This research targets suicide-loss survivors, particularly those affected by a military or veteran suicide, and investigates their engagement with suicide postvention programs. The study aims to examine the perceived effectiveness of these programs on family members who have experienced Military-Service Related Suicide (M-SRS). Volunteers' input will offer valuable insights, experiences, and perspectives, contributing crucial information to enhance our understanding of how M-SRS impacts surviving families and loved ones. Additionally, findings from this research may inform the development of a best practice model to support suicide-loss survivors.
CSI: OPIOIDs – a Research Study
For Survivors Grieving a Loss by Suicide after a Reduction in Pain Medicine
TAPS seeks to prevent suicides among all people who have served in our armed services, and to support bereaved family members. We are collaborating with a team of researchers from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and other institutions to look closely at certain suicides that happen for people with chronic pain after a reduction in pain medicine. If you have lost someone in this way, you may wish to consider participating in this research study.
Take the Survey Study Description
Legacy Mentors: From Grief to Growth Study
For Young Adult Military Survivors
The TAPS Research Team invites all TAPS Legacy Mentors and Young Adults (18-30) to participate in a research study exploring the long-lasting impact of peer support. The results of this study will help TAPS understand how peer-based emotional support can help provide bereaved military survivors with tools to cope with grief and traumatic experiences.
Financial Stressors And Suicide (RAND Corporation)
For Survivors Grieving the Loss by Suicide of a Military or Veteran Loved One
This is a study conducted by the RAND Corporation to understand the connection between financial distress and suicide. Their study is being funded by the Department of Defense (DoD), which helps ensure that their findings will be used to better understand and help prevent suicide in the military as well as inform the DoD on how to support families after losing a loved one to suicide.
Hope After Loss: Military Suicide Survivors
For Survivors Grieving the Loss by Suicide of a Military or Veteran Loved One
As part of our continued efforts to measure hope after loss, TAPS utilizes the Herth Hope Index alongside our National Military Suicide Survivor Seminar survey. This metric helps us quantify the impact of our programming.
For more information on our research initiatives, contact us at research@taps.org