The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) began as a research organization dedicated to finding the best ways to prevent suicide. Today, we are the largest private funder of suicide prevention research. Much of what is known about suicide comes from studies that AFSP has funded. Through our Innovation Research Grants, which support novel approaches to this important work, and our targeted, potentially high-impact Focus Research Grants, our studies help shape suicide prevention efforts around the world.
Research has shown that suicide can be prevented. By opening up new areas of inquiry, and funding studies across multiple disciplines at all levels of investigation, we can learn more about the causes of suicide, test promising treatments and interventions, and determine the best, most effective ways to save lives.
Focus Grants are targeted, innovative, high-risk, potentially high-yield projects that seek to inform and even transform suicide prevention efforts.
Cynthia Fontanella, Ph.D. Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital
Developing Suicide Risk Algorithms in Outpatient Care for Youth Using Machine Learning Techniques
Blue Sky Focus Grant
$1,245,919
P
Despite opportunities in outpatient care, many youth at risk for suicide remain unidentified due to the complexity of risk factors and limitations of traditional assessment methods. This project will apply machine learning to Medicaid claims data along with other health and social data to develop and evaluate a short-term suicide risk decision support tool to help clinicians work with youth presenting with mental health concerns. These tools will provide clinicians with actionable, patient-specific risk information, enabling proactive interventions to improve identification and outcomes for at-risk youth.
Tina Goldstein, Ph.D. University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Triple Chronotherapy + Transdiagnostic Sleep and Circadian Intervention (TranS-C+) for Suicidal Young Adults
Blue Sky Focus Grant
$1,499,063
T
There is a pressing need for effective treatments for college students with suicidal thoughts and behaviors that yield fast-acting and sustained impact. Evidence has shown that sleep health is a promising treatment target due to its association with near-term suicide risk and possibility of improvement with treatment. Given that college students exhibit substantial sleep difficulties, this project will examine a sleep-health focused treatment package for college students with acute suicide risk that holds promise to safely and non-invasively yield rapid and sustained improvement in suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
Innovation Grants. Through the funding of Innovation Grants, AFSP supports pioneering work that will increase our understanding of suicide with an array of promising new areas of research.
Evan Kleiman, Ph.D. Rutgers University
Matthew Nock, Ph.D. Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard University
Group-Based Protocol for a Real-Time Emotion Management Skills Intervention for Psychiatric Inpatients at High Risk for Suicide
Linked Standard Research Grant
$449,790
T
This study will examine the viability of a group implementation of a brief one-on-one intervention for addressing suicidal thoughts and behaviors. The intervention teaches skills to adults in the hospital who are identified with risk for suicide. The skills taught help them learn to manage distressing feelings and are paired with an app that helps them practice these skills after leaving the hospital. The intervention has been shown to be effective on an individual basis in inpatient settings. The goal is to deliver the program using a group format and examine its effectiveness.
Marie Gaine, Ph.D. University of Iowa
Sarven Sabunciyan, Ph.D. Johns Hopkins University
Brain-Relevant Molecules in the Blood
Linked Standard Research Grant
$449,999
N
There is a pressing need for effective treatments for college students with suicidal thoughts and behaviors that yield fast-acting and sustained impact. Evidence has shown that sleep health is a promising treatment target due to its association with near-term suicide risk and possibility of improvement with treatment. Given that college students exhibit substantial sleep difficulties, this project will examine a sleep-health focused treatment package for college students with acute suicide risk that holds promise to safely and non-invasively yield rapid and sustained improvement in suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
Jessica Peters, Ph.D. University of Iowa
Jessica Schleider, Ph.D. Northwestern University
Adapting and Testing a Digital Single Session Intervention for Coping with Minority Stress for Use with Suicidal LGBTQIA+ Adolescents on Inpatient Units
Linked Standard Research Grant
$449,738
T
LGBTQ+ adolescents are at high risk for suicide, in part due to facing many stressful experiences around their identities in day-to-day life. Up to half of adolescents hospitalized for suicide risk are LGBTQ+ and in need of additional support around LGBTQ+-specific issues. Project RISE is a digital self-guided intervention to improve resilience in LGBTQ+ youth. This project proposes to adapt Project RISE for suicide prevention use in inpatient units as a much-needed add-on treatment.
Heather Schatten, Ph.D. Butler Hospital
A. Rani Elwy, Ph.D. Brown University
Expanding Access to Evidence-Based Suicide Risk Assessment and Intervention in a Crisis Stabilization Setting
Linked Standard Research Grant
$449,999
T
The goal of this study is to expand access to suicide risk assessment, lethal means counseling, safety planning, and behavioral skills among patients at elevated suicide risk by implementing a tablet-based crisis app, Jaspr Health, into a crisis stabilization setting. This project will examine whether Jaspr improves satisfaction with clinical care and leads to fewer hospital readmissions, improvement in coping skills, and a reduction in suicidal thoughts and behaviors, distress, and agitation.
Yogesh Dwivedi, Ph.D. University of Alabama at Birmingham
Development of Novel Transdiagnostic Neural-Derived Exosomal miRNA-based Biomarkers for Suicidality
Distinguished Investigator Grant
$139,932
G
N
Suicide is a significant public health concern. However, the ability to predict and prevent suicidal behavior is limited. MicroRNAs representing gene expression play an essential role in conveying environmental impacts on brain function, and abnormal expression of these molecules has been linked to psychiatric disorders. Using an innovative approach (brain-derived plasma exosomes), this study will examine whether microRNAs can serve as "molecular tools" to identify suicidal behavior across diagnoses.
Marianne Goodman, M.D. James J. Peters VA Medical Center
Orexin Antagonism to Target Mechanisms of Suicide Risk: A Proof-of-Concept Clinical Trial
Distinguished Investigator Grant
$148,671
N
Orexins are brain chemicals that regulate critical functions, such as sleep and mood. This research proposal builds on exciting genetic data identifying the orexin-1 receptor as a treatment target for suicide risk. The proposed research will study the feasibility and preliminary effect of suvorexant, an orexin receptor antagonist medication currently used for insomnia, to reduce suicide risk in suicidal Veterans with major depression. The researchers will also examine the effect of suvorexant on measures of impulsivity and aggression, which are related to vulnerability to suicide.
Sabrina Darrow, Ph.D. University of California, San Francisco
DBT-Informed Caregiver Risk Management to Achieve a Zero Suicide System: A Pilot Study
Standard Research Grant
$125,000
T
The research team developed a telehealth intervention for caregivers of youth at risk of self-harm. The current study will integrate this service into a health care system's Zero Suicide effort and test whether it is acceptable to caregivers and feasible to implement in the system. Through input from stakeholders, including experts in youth treatment and suicide prevention, and individuals with lived experience, the researchers will modify the intervention to be helpful to diverse caregivers.
-Hahm.png)
Hyeouk (Chris) Hahm, Ph.D. Boston University
HEAL Study: Suicidal Thoughts, Behaviors, and Quality of Life among Suicide Bereaved Asian Americans
Standard Research Grant
$124,999
S
This HEAL (Hope and Empowerment of Asian American Loss) project focuses on the impact of suicide loss on Asian American (AA) families, exploring multiple socio-cultural risk factors including how loss of face, family roles, and beliefs influence suicidal behaviors and quality of life. By conducting interviews and surveys, this study aims to understand the unique challenges faced by bereaved AA families. Findings from this research will guide the development of culturally specific interventions to prevent suicide among suicide bereaved AAs.
Massimiliano Orri, Ph.D. McGill University (Canada)
Understanding Associations Between Irritability and Suicide-Related Outcomes: An International Study
Standard Research Grant
$125,000
P
Irritability, defined as an increased proneness to anger, is a potential risk factor for suicide-related outcomes. Pooling multiple datasets across the world, this study will use a meta-analytical approach with individual-level data to investigate associations between irritability and suicide-related outcomes, exploring variations based on participant characteristics. Findings from this research will help identify individuals at risk and potentially guide future interventions targeting irritability to reduce suicide risk.
Alexandra Pitman, Ph.D. University College, London (United Kingdom)
Timing of Risk of Suicide and Attempted Suicide in Relation to Key Life Events
Standard Research Grant
$125,000
P
Research has shown that people who go through divorce or experience unemployment are at increased risk of suicide, but little about when they are at greatest risk in the lead-up to or aftermath of these life events. By analyzing a large population dataset, this study seeks to identify time points at which people might be most likely to struggle mentally during the process of divorce or unemployment. Findings from this research will help plan timely and appropriate mental health and suicide prevention support.
James Aluri, M.D. Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Mentor: Holly Wilcox, Ph.D. Mentor Institution: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Identifying Mechanisms and Predictors of Suicide Contagion and Exploring Postvention at US Colleges
Early Career Researcher Grant
$137, 797
P
S
C
The rates of suicidal thoughts and behaviors are rising among US college students. This project aims to improve our understanding of postvention as an organized institutional response to a death by suicide on college campuses. By linking institutional data about suicide deaths and postvention protocols to the Healthy Minds Study (a national survey of college students), and gathering perspectives from college leaders, this project will generate evidence and practical guidance for postvention efforts on college campuses in the U.S.
Elizabeth Bartlett, Ph.D. Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, Inc
Mentor: John Mann, M.D. Mentor Institution: Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, Inc
Dynorphin/Kappa Opioid Receptor Signaling Role in Ketamine’s Anti-Suicidal Ideation Effect
Early Career Researcher Grant
$140,000
n
It is of interest to suicide prevention to explore how stress, suicidal thoughts, and the effects of ketamine are connected in people with depression. Stress increases the risk for suicidal thoughts, but the biological basis is unclear. Ketamine may help reduce suicidal thoughts by affecting stress-linked brain systems. This study will use smartphone tracking to monitor real-time responses to stress and positron emission tomography (PET) brain scans to study how ketamine affects brain pathways related to stress and suicidal thoughts in depressed individuals.
Madeline Benz, Ph.D. Brown University Medical School
Mentor: Brandon Gaudiano, Ph.D. Mentor Institution: Butler Hospital, Brown University
Development of an Intervention to Reduce Overdose Risk in Dual Diagnosis Patients
Early Career Researcher Grant
$140,000
t
Patients with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders are more likely to experience both intentional and unintentional overdose, especially following discharge from inpatient treatment. Suicide prevention interventions need to address overdose across the spectrum of intentionality and with additional considerations related to the influences of substance use and intoxication. Through collaboration with patients and clinicians, the researchers aim to develop and test a novel overdose-specific safety planning.
Daniel Bowling, Ph.D. Stanford University School of Medicine
Mentor: Alan Schatzberg, M.D. Mentor Institution: Stanford University School of Medicine
Standardized Tunable Music Medicine for Suicidality (STAMM-S)
Early Career Researcher Grant
$140,000
t
This project integrates music neuroscience, therapy, and technology to implement Standardized Tunable Music Medicine for Suicidality (STAMM-S) as a first-of-its-kind, listening-based mobile health intervention that systematically applies music’s core effects on brain reward, affect, and entrainment for suicidal thoughts and behavior in young adults. Each participant will be given access to a personalized playlist of therapeutically aligned preferred music and intuitive digital controls that provide real-time control over tempo, spectrum, and amplitude. Participants will be guided on how to match these features of music to their mood and facilitate positive shifts toward improved well-being.
Michael Bronstein, Ph.D. University of Minnesota
Mentor: E. David Klonsky, Ph.D. Mentor Institution: University of British Columbia (Canada)
Using Data Science to Reveal Within-Person Causal Pathways to Suicide Ideation
Early Career Researcher Grant
$140,000
p
Contributors to suicide ideation differ across people with psychosis. However, treatment often begins without determining what contributed to thoughts of suicide for someone with psychosis. Accordingly, suicide ideation and behavior often persist. This study will test an innovative machine learning method of identifying what contributed to changes in suicide ideation severity in a given individual. If successful, this method will enable more personalized and effective treatment approaches.
Sarah Brown, Ph.D. Florida State University
Mentor: Lori Scott, Ph.D. Mentor Institution: University of Pittsburgh
Examining Mechanisms Underlying Suicidal Imagery and Near-term Fluctuations in Suicide Risk in Lab and in Daily Life
Early Career Researcher Grant
$139,993
p
Suicidal imagery has been found to be informative about risk for suicidal behavior. This study investigates how suicidal imagery influences short-term fluctuations in suicide risk. By examining real-time affective and physiological responses, both in the lab and in daily life, the findings of this research will provide valuable insights into how, when, and for whom imagery-related processes may exacerbate suicide risk. Understanding the role of imagery-related processes in the onset and maintenance of suicide risk will directly enhance suicide risk assessments and inform targeted intervention development.
Sarah Brown, Ph.D. Florida State University
Mentor: Lori Scott, Ph.D. Mentor Institution: University of Pittsburgh
Examining Mechanisms Underlying Suicidal Imagery and Near-term Fluctuations in Suicide Risk in Lab and in Daily Life
Early Career Researcher Grant
$139,993
p
Suicidal imagery has been found to be informative about risk for suicidal behavior. This study investigates how suicidal imagery influences short-term fluctuations in suicide risk. By examining real-time affective and physiological responses, both in the lab and in daily life, the findings of this research will provide valuable insights into how, when, and for whom imagery-related processes may exacerbate suicide risk. Understanding the role of imagery-related processes in the onset and maintenance of suicide risk will directly enhance suicide risk assessments and inform targeted intervention development.
Alexander Hatoum, Ph.D. Washington University at St. Louis
Mentor: Anna Docherty, Ph.D. Mentor Institution: University of Utah
Nature or Nurture Depends on the Individual: Person Specific Artificial Intelligence Suicidality Risk Models
Early Career Researcher Grant
$140,000
p
This proposal aims to address the diversity of risk factors for suicidal thoughts and behaviors that complicate current prediction models. In particular, this project focuses on the intersection of genetic and environmental predictors, and their overlap. Explainable AI will be used to integrate various sources of information and create person-centered risk scores that include genetic models, guided by single cell molecular patterns, and environmental exposure risk factors. This approach could enable more targeted, effective intervention strategies based on personalized risk profiles.
Audreyana Jagger-Rickels, Ph.D. The Ohio State University
Mentor: Scott Langenecker, Ph.D. Mentor Institution: The Ohio State University
The Role of the Middle Temporal Gyrus in Suicide Risk
Early Career Researcher Grant
$140,000
n
We are learning more about the role of the brain with regard to suicide. It is possible that the middle temporal gyrus may play a role in suicide risk. Veterans with and without a history of a suicide attempt will watch an emotional film (measuring emotion disengagement/dissociation) and make self-death associations (measuring negative self-referential processing) while recording brain activity in the middle temporal gyrus. It is hypothesized that the middle temporal gyrus will be overactive in those with a history of a suicide attempt, suggesting it contributes to mechanisms that maintain suicide risk.
Jaclyn Kirshenbaum, Ph.D.. Columbia University
Mentor: David Pagliaccio, Ph.D. Mentor Institution: Columbia University
Suicide Risk in Children Post-Emergency Department Discharge: Roles of Stress, Sleep, and Negative Urgency
Early Career Researcher Grant
$139,997
n
Stress, sleep problems, and impulsivity are prevalent in children presenting to the Emergency Department (ED) with suicidal thoughts and behavior. This project will enroll children aged eight to twelve years old who have been admitted to the ED for suicide concerns. Given prior research showing that the first three months post-discharge are particularly high risk, this study will investigate stress, sleep, and impulsive-related risk factors for suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STB) during this timeframe. These are potentially modifiable factors and available for intervention.
Su Yeon Lee-Tauler, Ph.D. Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
Mentor: Kimberly Van Orden, Ph.D. Mentor Institution: University of Rochester
'Wero' Faith Community Suicide Prevention Outreach and Social Engagement for Korean American Older Adults
Early Career Researcher Grant
$140,000
c
Korean American older adults have a high suicide rate, yet no tailored suicide prevention programs exist. This project aims to leverage the Korean American church infrastructure to create a suicide-safe community and provide faith leaders with tools to enhance social connection with older adults with elevated risk. This model could support suicide prevention efforts within faith communities across the U.S., Korea, and other diverse racial/ethnic groups.
Alessia Mastrodonato, Ph.D. Columbia University
Mentor: Mark Underwood, Ph.D. Mentor Institution: Columbia University
The Neurobiology of Suicide: Blood-Brain Barrier Breakdown as a Novel Suicide-Risk Biomarker
Early Career Researcher Grant
$140,000
n
Elevated levels of inflammatory molecules are found in the brains of suicide decedents, even though the brain is typically protected from such agents by a blood-brain barrier (BBB). Using a translational approach, researchers will investigate the BBB breakdown as a biomarker for suicide. By identifying the BBB genes in the brains of people who died by suicide and using a mouse stress model to examine cause and effect, there’s an opportunity for exploring novel therapeutics to aid individuals experiencing suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
Mina Rizk, M.D. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Mentor: James Murrough, M.D., Ph.D. Mentor Institution: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Immune Mechanisms Underlying The Rapid Anti-suicidal Effects of Electroconvulsive Therapy and Ketamine
Early Career Researcher Grant
$140,000
n
t
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and intravenous ketamine are two effective treatments for individuals suffering from depression and an acute suicidal crisis. Abnormalities of the immune system are linked to suicide risk and can be modulated by ECT and ketamine. This study aims to understand if the biological effects of ECT and ketamine on the immune system are related to their clinical effects on suicidal thoughts in people with major depression.
Megan Rogers, Ph.D. Texas State University
Mentor: Michael Armey, Ph.D. Mentor Institution: Brown University, Butler Hospital
Assessing Warning Signs for Suicide in Intensive Longitudinal Designs: Development and Validation of a Brief Measure
Early Career Researcher Grant
$140,000
p
Warning signs for suicide have been widely disseminated. However, assessment of these warning signs has been hindered by the lack of a validated self-report instrument. This study uses a multiphase approach to developing and validating a self-report measure of warning signs for suicide, including item generation and refinement based on feedback from those with professional and lived experience and evaluation of the resulting scale’s structure, reliability, and validity in a sample of adults with suicidal thoughts.
Katherine Sarkisian, Ph.D. The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital
Mentor: Jennifer Hughes, Ph.D. Mentor Institution: The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital
Safety Plans for Elementary-Aged Kids (SPEAK): A Feasibility Trial
Early Career Researcher Grant
$139,997
t
Approximately 13% of nine- and ten-year-olds in the United States have had thoughts about killing themselves. The lack of suicide prevention approaches that are specialized for elementary-aged children is a significant public health concern. This project is focused on developing and testing specialized safety plans for children (ages seven to eleven) who experience suicidal thoughts or behaviors. This approach will also be designed to help caregivers support their child’s safety and healthy coping.
Kaitlyn Schuler, Ph.D. University of North Carolina, Wilmington
Mentor: Jo Robinson, MA Mentor Institution: University of Melbourne (Australia)
Daily Experiences of Minority Stress, Social Media Use, and Suicidality in LGBTQ+ Emerging Adults
Early Career Researcher Grant
$140,000
p
This study examines daily experiences of minority stress, social media use, connectedness and suicidal thoughts and behaviors in LGBTQ+ emerging adults who are at high risk of suicide. The research team will work with a youth advisory team to ensure the relevance and safety of study procedures and enhance participant engagement. Findings from this proposal could inform mobile interventions for LGBTQ+ youth suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
Amelia Stanton, Ph.D. Boston University
Mentor: Richard Liu, Ph.D. Mentor Institution: Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School
Identifying Sexual and Gender Minority Youth at Increased Risk for Suicidality to Inform a Systems-Level Intervention: A Data Mining Approach
Early Career Researcher Grant
$140,000
p
This study will apply a novel statistical approach to medical record data to identify subgroups of sexual and gender minority youth and young adults with intersecting factors that are associated with increased risk for suicidal ideation. The research team will also hold focus groups with sexual and gender minority youth patients at increased risk for suicidal ideation and with primary care providers to explore barriers to accessing prevention services and preferences for a risk-reduction intervention.
Danielle Steelesmith, Ph.D. The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital
Mentor: Cynthia Fontanella, Ph.D. Mentor Institution: The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital
The Effects of Individual and Bundled Public Health Policies on Suicide Rates among Youth and Emerging Adults in Rural America
Early Career Researcher Grant
$140,000
c
Examining the influence of public policy on county-level suicide rates among youth and emerging adults (ages ten to 29 years) across geographic location is of great importance. Policies related to social welfare (e.g., TANF/SNAP, EITC, child tax credits), firearms (e.g., safe storage, red flag laws, background checks), and drug and alcohol (e.g., prescribing limits, taxes, age restrictions) will be studied alone and in combination to determine if there are differences between rural and urban location, as well as within rural locations, in their impact on suicide among youth and emerging adults.
Mallory Stephenson, Ph.D. Virginia Commonwealth University
Mentor: Alexis Edwards, Ph.D. Mentor Institution: Virginia Commonwealth University
Investigating the Impact of Adolescent Suicide Attempt and Death on Parents and Siblings
Early Career Researcher Grant
$137,673
s
Adolescent suicidal behavior can be a stressful and traumatic experience for the entire family, and it is important to understand when and under what conditions family members are most affected. This study will evaluate the effect of adolescent suicide attempts and death by suicide on the potential risk for mental disorders and suicidal behavior among parents and siblings. This work could inform the development of more effective outreach efforts following an adolescent’s suicide attempt or death by suicide.
Ophélie Collet, Ph.D., MPH Université de Montréal (Canada)
Mentor: Annette Erlangsen, Ph.D. Mentor Institution: Mental Health Centre, Copenhagen (Denmark)
Maternal Psychotropic Medication Use in Pregnancy and Offspring Suicidal Behavior: A Register-Based Target Trial Emulation
Postdoctoral Fellowship
$140,000
t
p
Psychotropic medications can effectively treat maternal mental health conditions, but there is concern that their use during pregnancy might affect a child’s neurodevelopment. This study uses data from 1.7 million people in Denmark to examine whether these medications during pregnancy influence children’s risk of suicidal behavior and whether stopping them increases mothers’ risk of suicidal behavior. By mimicking clinical trials using causal inference methods, this research aims to guide safer treatment decisions during pregnancy for mothers and their children.
Devon Watts, Ph.D. Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School
Mentor: Jordan Smoller, M.D., Sc.D. Mentor Institution: Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School
Identifying Novel Therapeutic Targets for Suicide Prevention through Multi-Omic Analysis and Drug Repurposing
Postdoctoral Fellowship
$140,000
G
t
Despite advances in suicide prevention, current methods to assess risk and treat suicidal behavior have significant limitations. This study aims to improve suicide prevention in two ways. First, by combining genetic and medical records data in order to better identify individuals at risk. Second, by understanding the biological pathways involved in suicide risk. Findings could help determine which, if any, existing FDA-approved medications could be most effective as treatment options for suicide prevention.
Wenjing Wei, M.D. Shanghai Mental Health Center (China)
Mentor: Howard Aizenstein, M.D., Ph.D. Mentor Institution: University of Pittsburgh
A Computational Approach to Understanding the Risk Architecture of Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors in Older Adults
Postdoctoral Fellowship
$140,000
p
Using advanced AI to analyze brain MRI data, patterns that signal suicide risk in older adults as well as patients with depression and increased suicide risk will be explored. This innovative approach, merging psychiatry with computer science, aims to revolutionize suicide prevention and care for the elderly, addressing a pressing health challenge in an aging global population.
Elizabeth Edershile, Ph.D. Rutgers University
Narcissism, Affect Regulation, and Suicide Risk
Pilot Research Grant
$50,000
p
Some individuals report that thinking about suicide can temporarily relieve intense negative feelings. This might also apply to those with pathological narcissism, where suicidal thoughts help lessen feelings of intense shame. This study will examine how pathological narcissism is associated with suicidal thinking in real time. Further, the research team will assess for entitlement-based thoughts of suicide to see if there is a correlation with high-risk periods.
Deborah Tyndall, Ph.D., RN University of North Carolina, Wilmington
Understanding Associations Between Irritability and Suicide-Related Outcomes: An International Study
Pilot Research Grant
$49,766
t
School nurses are well positioned to identify students at risk, yet prior research has shown that they are often excluded from school-based suicide prevention programs. This project will establish the feasibility and acceptability of a school nurse suicide risk screening intervention for youth in two public school districts in rural North Carolina. This pilot study will provide insights on the effectiveness of the intervention and how to tailor the intervention for implementation throughout the state.
Key
n
Neurobiological: How do brain structure and neurochemical function
contribute to suicide?
p
Psychosocial: What are the risk factors and warning signs for suicide?
g
Genetic: What genetic pathways are associated with suicide risk, and
can we develop biological interventions and treatments?
t
Treatment: What treatments — like therapies and medications — are
effective at reducing suicide?
c
Community: What universal prevention programs — like hotlines,
gatekeeper training, and community-based programs — are the most effective?
s
Loss Survivors: What is the impact of suicide loss, and
what helps the healing process?
