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 opportunities

• RFA-MH-23-260: Suicide Prevention Across the Life Span in Low- and Middle-Income Countries  (R34 Clinical Trial Optional)
  • Expires June 21, 2023
• RFA-MH-24-320: Approaches to Identifying Preteen Suicide Risk and Protective Factors (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)  
  • Expires November 10, 2023
• RFA-MH-24-322: Data Coordinating Center for Approaches to Identifying Preteen Suicide Risk and Protective Factors (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)   
  • Expires November 10, 2023
• RFA-MH-25-126: Systems-Level Risk Detection and Interventions to Reduce Suicide, Ideation, and Behaviors in Youth From Underserved Populations (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)   
  • Expires February 21, 2024
• RFA-MH-25-125: Systems-Level Risk Detection and Interventions to Reduce Suicide, Ideation, and Behaviors in Youth from Underserved Populations (R34 Clinical Trial Optional)   
  • Expires February 21, 2024
• PAR-23-238: Social Disconnection and Suicide Risk in Late Life  
  • Expires September 8, 2026
• PAR-23-239: Social Disconnection and Suicide Risk in Late Life  
  • Expires September 8, 2026
• PA-20-272: Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Administrative Supplements for NIMH Grants to Inform the Assessment of Suicide Thoughts and Behaviors among Children and Preteens  
  • Expires October 8, 2023
• NOT-MH-22-086: Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Administrative Supplements for NIMH Grants to Inform the Assessment of Suicide Thoughts and Behaviors among Children and Preteens   
  • Expires May 8, 2024
• NOT-MH-21-090: Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) in Reducing Suicide Risk in Young People Low- and Middle-Income Countries and Low-Resource Settings  
  • Expires May 7, 2024
• NOT-MH-23-140: Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Priority Research Opportunities in Crisis Response Services  
  • Expires May 8, 2025
• NOT-OD-23-039: Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Firearm Injury and Mortality Prevention Research  
  • Expires February 5, 2026

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.
• Practice-Based Suicide Prevention Research Centers   
  Description of NIMH's integrated, transdisciplinary research programs aimed at developing, refining, and testing effective and scalable approaches for reducing suicide rates in the United States.

Team lead

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