BRAVE
BRAVE is a multi-media intervention designed for American Indian and Alaska Native youth ages 15–24 and aims to promote healthy social norms and cultural values to improve mental health. BRAVE uses text messages, videos, and small group activities to increase youth help-seeking behaviors through trauma-informed lessons. Lessons are designed to teach youth about suicide warning signs, encourage and destigmatize the use of mental health resources, connect youth with peers and trusted adults, and prepare youth to initiate difficult conversations.
A re-review of BRAVE was conducted in March 2026 based on additional outcomes from Study 14366 being eligible for review under the Handbook of Standards and Procedures, Version 2.0.
The Prevention Services Clearinghouse’s independent systematic review of BRAVE found that no studies of the program achieved a rating of moderate or high on design and execution.
As of December 2025, the ACF Assistant Secretary has final approval authority over the determination of the program or service rating. For more information, please visit the FAQ on the rating determination policy.
Date Last Reviewed by the Prevention Services Clearinghouse (Handbook Version 2.0): Mar 2026
Date Program or Service Description Last Updated: Mar 2026
Date Originally Reviewed by the Prevention Services Clearinghouse (Handbook Version 1.0): Sep 2022
Sources
The program or service description, target population, and program or service delivery and implementation information were informed by the following sources: the program or service manual and the program or service developer’s website.
This information does not necessarily represent the views of the program or service developers. For more information on how this program or service was reviewed, download the Handbook of Standards and Procedures, Version 2.0
Target Population
BRAVE is designed to serve American Indian and Alaska Native youth ages 15–24.
Dosage
BRAVE can be delivered in three ways: (1) one 10–30-minute individual or group lesson with at least one youth, followed by text messaging for 8 weeks, which includes one role model video and three to six text messages per week; (2) one 45–60-minute group lesson with four or more youth; or (3) weekly 30–45-minute group lessons with four or more youth for 7 weeks.
Location/Delivery Setting
Recommended Locations/Delivery Settings
For all three delivery options, facilitators typically deliver BRAVE in community settings, such as clinics, schools, treatment centers, and community-based organizations. BRAVE can also be adapted for virtual delivery for all three delivery options. For the first delivery option, participants receive weekly videos and text messages following the initial in-person or virtual lesson.
Education, Certifications and Training
BRAVE has no education, certification, or training requirements.
Program or Service Documentation
Book/Manual/Available documentation used for review
Available languages
BRAVE materials are available in English.
Other supporting materials
BRAVE Text Series Sign-Up Site
For More Information
Website: https://www.healthynativeyouth.org/curricula/brave/
Phone: (503) 228-4185
Email: native@npaihb.org
Note: The details on Dosage; Location; Education, Certifications, and Training; Other Supporting Materials; and For More Information sections above are provided to website users for informational purposes only. This information is not exhaustive and may be subject to change.
| Results of Search and Review | Number of Studies Identified and Reviewed for BRAVE |
|---|---|
| Identified in Search | 2 |
| Eligible for Review | 1 |
| Rated High | 0 |
| Rated Moderate | 0 |
| Rated Low | 1 |
| Reviewed Only for Risk of Harm | 0 |
Studies Rated Low
Study 14366Stephens, D., Peterson, R., Singer, M., Johnson, J., Rushing, S. C., & Kelley, A. (2020). Recruiting and engaging American Indian and Alaska Native teens and young adults in a SMS help-seeking intervention: Lessons learned from the BRAVE Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(24), 9437. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17249437
Rushing, S. C., Kelley, A., Bull, S., Stephens, D., Wrobel, J., Silvasstar, J., Peterson, R., Begay, C., Ghost Dog, T., McCray, C., Brown, D. L., Thomas, M., Caughlan, C., Singer, M., Smith, P., & Sumbundu, K. (2021). Efficacy of an mHealth intervention (BRAVE) to promote mental wellness for American Indian and Alaska Native teenagers and young adults: Randomized controlled trial. JMIR Mental Health, 8(9), Article e26158. https://doi.org/10.2196/26158
Wrobel, J., Silvasstar, J., Peterson, R., Sumbundu, K., Kelley, A., Stephens, D., Rushing, S. C., & Bull, S. (2022). Text messaging intervention for mental wellness in American Indian and Alaska Native teens and young adults (BRAVE Study): Analysis of user engagement patterns. JMIR Formative Research, 6(2), Article e32138. https://doi.org/10.2196/32138
This study received a low rating because none of the target outcomes met measurement standards.Studies Not Eligible for Review
Study 14367
Rushing, S. C., Kelley, A., Hafner, S., Stephens, D., Singer, M., Bingham, D., Caughlan, C., Fatupaito, B., Gaston, A., Ghost Dog, T., Smith, P., Love Brown, D., & McCray, C. (2021). The BRAVE Study: Formative research to design a multimedia intervention for American Indian and Alaska Native young adults. American Indian and Alaska Native Mental Health Research (Online), 28(1), 71-102. https://doi.org/10.5820/aian.2801.2021.71
This study is ineligible for review because it does not use an eligible study design (Handbook Version 2.0, Section 4.1.5)