Suicide Research

Suicide is a significant public health problem in the United States and globally. Formed in 2019, the Suicide Research Team (SRT) leads NIMH’s suicide research activities. The purpose of the team is to:

• Coordinate outreach initiatives that engage key agencies and stakeholders supporting research
• Collaborate on research efforts to help prevent suicide

The SRT work focuses on efforts that align with the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention and is guided by the Prioritized Research Agenda for Suicide Prevention. The SRT works to meet the institute’s commitment to achieving the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention goal of reducing the suicide rate by 20% by 2025. The team considers trends in suicide rates, attempts, and ideation and works to address groups at increased risk.

The SRT develops suicide-related workshops, webinars, and funding opportunities to address suicide prevention research gaps that align with NIMH priorities. Topics range from suicide etiology to suicide risk trajectories and risk identification to implementing practical and scalable interventions in a variety of settings that serve at-risk populations. These settings include health care, education, and criminal justice systems among others.

Recent Meetings and Events

Featured Funding Opportunity Announcements

• Service-Ready Tools for Identification, Prevention, and Treatment of Individuals at Risk for Suicide (SBIR/STTR) - expires June 16, 2022
  • RFA-MH-21-110
  • RFA-MH-21-111
  • RFA-MH-21-112
• Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) in Research on Risk and Prevention of Black Youth Suicide - expires July 31, 2022
• Pilot Practice-Based Research for Primary Care Suicide Prevention
  • RFA-MH-22-120 - expires February 22, 2023
• Social Disconnection and Suicide Risk in Late Life
  • RFA-MH-22-135 - expires October 16, 2022
  • RFA-MH-22-136 - expires October 16, 2022
• Understanding Suicide Risk and Protective Factors among Black Youth
  • RFA-MH-22-140 - expires June 21, 2023
  • RFA-MH-22-141 - expires June 21, 2023
• Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Administrative Supplements for NIMH Grants to Inform the Assessment of Suicide Thoughts and Behaviors among Children and Preteens
  • PA-20-272 - Expires October 8, 2023
  • NOT-MH-22-195 - Expires April 2, 2023
  • NOT-MH-22-086 - Expires May 8, 2024
• Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) in Reducing Suicide Risk in Young People Low- and Middle- Income Countries and Low-Resource Settings
  • NOT-MH-21-090 - Expires May 7, 2024
• Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Priority Research Opportunities in Crisis Response Services
  • NOT-MH-23-140 - Expires May 8, 2025
• Career Enhancement Award to Advance Research on Firearm Injury and Mortality Prevention
  • PAR-23-107 - Expires March 18, 2023
  • PAR-23-108 - Expires March 18, 2023
• Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Firearm Injury and Mortality Prevention Research
  • NOT-OD-23-039 - Expires February 5, 2026
• Notice of Intent to Publish a Funding Opportunity Announcement for Suicide Prevention Across the Life Span in Low- and Middle- Income Countries
  • NOT-MH-23-150 - Expires April 1, 2024

Suicide News and Events

Additional Resources

• Suicide Statistics
  Selected statistics on U.S. suicide deaths, suicide attempts, and suicide ideation.
• Conducting Research with Participants at Elevated Risk for Suicide: Considerations for Researchers
  NIMH guidance on suicide intervention research, which addresses ethical and participant safety questions, federal policies and guidance, state-specific laws and policies, and cross-cutting research issues.
• Director’s Messages About Suicide
  Information about suicide prevention research and science from NIMH Director Dr. Joshua A. Gordon.

Team Leads

Jane Pearson, Ph.D.
Special Advisor on Suicide Research to the NIMH Director
Email: jane.pearson@nih.gov
Phone: 301-443-3598