Jayna Moceri-Brooks

Faculty

Moceri-Brooks Headshot

Jayna Moceri-Brooks

PhD RN FAAN

1 212 998 9002

433 First Ave
New York, NY 10010
United States

Jayna Moceri-Brooks, PhD, RN, is a Clinical Assistant Professor. Her research focuses on firearm injury prevention, combat-related traumatic brain injuries, and risk factors for suicidal thoughts and behaviors among service members and Veterans, with a particular focus on military culture. Findings from her research have shaped federal policies aimed at reforming the care and recognition of service members with traumatic brain injuries.

Prof. Moceri-Brooks is a member of the Regional Gun Violence Research Consortium at the Rockefeller Institute of Government and serves on the community advisory board of the Harvard/Massachusetts General ReBlast research team. She has also maintained her practice as an Emergency Nurse for over 16 years.

Moceri-Brooks is currently engaged in research projects that examine factors influencing firearm storage practices among Veterans. She also continues to collaborate with members of Congress on policies related to blast overpressure injuries and firearm injury prevention within the military.

Prior to joining the faculty at NYU Meyers, Moceri-Brooks was a post-doctoral fellow at the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center at Rutgers University where she focused on firearm injury prevention among civilian and military populations and worked across a portfolio of Department of Defense-funded suicide prevention research projects.

PHD, Duquesne University
MN, University of Washington
BSN, Seattle Pacific University
Phi Kappa Phi
Sigma Theta Tau
Transcultural Nursing Society
Society for Prevention Research
The Society of Federal Health Professionals (AMSUS)
American Nurses Association
NYU Meyers Dean's Excellence in Policy Advocacy Award (2025)
Duquesne University’s Distinguished Dissertation Honorable Mention Award (2024)
Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society (2021)
Order of Saint Joan D’Arc (2020)
Order of the Family Spur, Fort Cavazos, TX (2020)
Soldier Family Readiness Group (SFRG) Awards for Volunteer Work (2007) (2008) (2012) (2019) (2020)
Duquesne School of Nursing PhD Scholarship (2019)
SFRG Distinguished Service Award, Fort Cavazos, TX (2019)
SFRG Volunteer of the Month, Fort Cavazos, TX (2019)
Daisy Award for Excellence in Patient Care Delivery (2012)

Determining who military service members deem credible to discuss firearm safety for suicide prevention

Moceri-Brooks, J., Bond, A. E., Moceri-Brooks, J., Bandel, S. L., Crifasi, C., Bryan, C. J., Capron, D. W., Bryan, A. O., & Anestis, M. D. (2024). In Suicide & life-threatening behavior (Vols. 54, Issues 3, pp. 584-592).
Abstract
Abstract
To examine rankings of credible sources for discussing secure storage within a representative sample of firearm-owning service members, and examine how combinations of demographic variables impact the ranking of credible sources.

Examining racial and sex differences among ranking of credible sources to discuss secure firearm storage for suicide prevention by military service members

Bond, A., Moceri-Brooks, J., Bandel, S. L., Semenza, D. C., & Anestis, M. D. (2024).
Abstract
Abstract
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Exploring the use of the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire to examine suicidal thoughts and behaviors among Post-9/11 U.S. Combat Veterans: An integrative review

Moceri-Brooks, J., Moceri-Brooks, J., Garand, L., Sekula, L. K. K., & Joiner, T. E. (2024). In Military psychology : the official journal of the Division of Military Psychology, American Psychological Association (Vols. 36, Issues 3, pp. 340-352).
Abstract
Abstract
This integrative review expands on the work of Kramer et al. (2020), by reviewing studies that utilized the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire (INQ) to examine the interpersonal constructs (thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness) of the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide (ITS) to understand suicidal thoughts and behaviors among service members and Veterans with combat experience. Very few studies (n = 9) in the literature were identified, however important relationships were revealed between combat exposure/experiences, thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors among military samples. Studies also reported risk factors for high levels of thwarted belongingness or perceived burdensomeness in military samples, such as moral injuries, betrayal, and aggression. This review highlights the utility of the INQ to measure ITS constructs among Post-9/11 U.S. Combat Veterans.

Firearm Access and Gun Violence Exposure Among American Indian or Alaska Native and Black Adults

Moceri-Brooks, J., Anestis, M. D., Moceri-Brooks, J., Ziminski, D., Barnes, R. T. T., & Semenza, D. (2024). In JAMA network open (Vols. 7, Issues 3, p. e240073).
Abstract
Abstract
American Indian or Alaska Native and Black adults experience elevated rates of firearm injury and death, but both groups are severely underrepresented in research on firearm exposure and behaviors.

Improving traumatic brain injury recognition to reduce firearm suicide risk in military populations. 

Moceri-Brooks, J. (2024). Rockefeller Institute of Government Regional Gun Violence Research Consortium.
Abstract
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Military community engagement to prevent firearm-related violence: adaptation of project safe guard for service members

Moceri-Brooks, J., Kennedy, S. R. R., Buck-Atkinson, J., Moceri-Brooks, J., Johnson, M. L., Anestis, M. D., Carrington, M., Baker, J. C., Fisher, M. E., Nease, D. E., Bryan, A. O., Bryan, C. J., & Betz, M. E. (2024). In Injury epidemiology (Vols. 11, Issue 1, p. 7).
Abstract
Abstract
Suicide, especially by firearm, remains a leading cause of death in military populations in the USA. Reducing access to firearms, especially during high risk times, may help prevent suicide and other forms of violence. The purpose of this study was to adapt a promising existing lethal means safety intervention (Project Safe Guard, PSG) for cross-cutting violence prevention and peer support in active-duty service communities using community engagement methods.

Military spouse and key stakeholder perspectives of effective messaging for US service members on secure storage of personal firearms : A qualitative study

Baker, J. C., Anestis, M. D., Meza, K. A., Moceri-Brooks, J., Bletz, A., Friedman, K., Ho, R. A., Bryan, A. O., Bryan, C. J., & Betz, M. E. (2024). In Injury Prevention. 10.1136/ip-2024-045351
Abstract
Abstract
Background: Secure firearm storage is a proposed method for reducing intentional and unintentional firearm injury and death among US military service members. However, little is known about suggested key messengers and optimal message content to promote secure firearm storage practices among at-risk US service members. This qualitative study focused on military spouse and stakeholder perspectives concerning key messengers and message content for the delivery of effective messaging around promoting secure firearm storage practices among US service members. Methods: Military spouses and stakeholders of military support organisations were recruited at various military installations in the USA and completed either individual or group qualitative interviews via Zoom consisting of open-ended questions on perspectives of effective messaging for secure firearm storage for at-risk service members. Qualitative analysis included comprehensive memoing, regularly scheduled team meetings and triangulation of data with established literature. Results: 56 participants were interviewed between August 2022 and March 2023. Participants identified key messengers for promoting secure firearm storage as peers, chaplains, clinicians or a combination. Perspectives on preferred message content for the promotion of secure firearm storage consisted of focusing on lived experience, personal anecdotes and relatable stories. Discussion and conclusions: Extant research has focused exclusively on firearm owners' perspectives of effective messaging for the promotion of secure firearm storage practices. This study highlights the important contributions of military spouses and stakeholder perspectives on who are credible messengers and what is the most effective message content to promote a perspective shift on how firearms are stored among military firearm owners.

Military spouse and key stakeholder perspectives of effective messaging for US service members on secure storage of personal firearms: a qualitative study

Moceri-Brooks, J., Baker, J. C., Anestis, M. D., Meza, K. A., Moceri-Brooks, J., Bletz, A., Friedman, K., Ho, R. A., Bryan, A. O., Bryan, C. J., & Betz, M. E. (2024). In Injury prevention : journal of the International Society for Child and Adolescent Injury Prevention.
Abstract
Abstract
Secure firearm storage is a proposed method for reducing intentional and unintentional firearm injury and death among US military service members. However, little is known about suggested key messengers and optimal message content to promote secure firearm storage practices among at-risk US service members. This qualitative study focused on military spouse and stakeholder perspectives concerning key messengers and message content for the delivery of effective messaging around promoting secure firearm storage practices among US service members.

Perceptions of the utility of secure firearm storage methods as a suicide prevention tool among firearm owners who currently store their firearms loaded and unlocked

Moceri-Brooks, J., Anestis, M. D., Bond, A. E., Moceri-Brooks, J., Bandel, S. L., & Semenza, D. (2024). In Suicide & life-threatening behavior (Vols. 54, Issue 1, pp. 122-128).
Abstract
Abstract
Although secure firearm storage can prevent firearm injury and death, secure storage is relatively rare. This tendency may be driven in part by a perceived lack of utility for secure storage in preventing suicide and other gun violence-related outcomes.

Project Safe Guard: Challenges and opportunities of a universal rollout of peer-delivered lethal means safety counseling at a US military installation

Moceri-Brooks, J., Stanley, I. H., Anestis, M. D., Bryan, C. J., Moceri-Brooks, J., Baker, J. C., Buck-Atkinson, J., Bryan, A. O., Johnson, M., Hunter, K., Johnson, R. L., Xiao, M., & Betz, M. E. (2024). In Suicide & life-threatening behavior (Vols. 54, Issues 3, pp. 489-500).
Abstract
Abstract
The US Department of Defense recommends lethal means safety counseling (LMSC) to promote firearm injury prevention via secure storage of personal firearms. We describe the rollout of a universal, peer-delivered adaptation of Project Safe Guard (PSG)-a brief, single-session LMSC discussion-at a US Space Force installation.