Boosting social connection to reduce suicide risk in older adults
Promoting Social Connection to Prevent Late-Life Suicide
This project offers a 10-session coaching program paired with smartphone activities to help lonely older adults in senior living communities build social ties and lower suicidal thoughts.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11194613 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would join if you are an older adult living in a senior living community who feels lonely and has had thoughts of suicide. In the first phase, 30 participants try the Social Engage Coaching (S-ENG) program while smartphone-based measures track social connection at baseline, 8 weeks, and 16 weeks. In the second phase, 120 participants are randomly assigned to S-ENG or enhanced usual care and followed for 20 weeks to see whether coaching reduces suicide risk. The program includes 10 one-on-one coaching sessions and uses both objective phone data and self-reported measures to track changes in social connection and suicidal thoughts.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are lonely older adults living in senior living communities who report suicidal thoughts and can use a smartphone.
Not a fit: People who are not lonely, cannot use a smartphone, have severe cognitive impairment, are actively psychotic, or require immediate inpatient psychiatric care may not benefit from this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could reduce suicidal thoughts and deaths among lonely older adults by strengthening social ties.
How similar studies have performed: Research indicates social connection is promising for lowering suicide risk, but there are currently no proven interventions specifically tested to prevent suicide in later life, so this approach is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Rochester, United States
- University of Rochester — Rochester, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Van Orden, Kimberly Allison — University of Rochester
- Study coordinator: Van Orden, Kimberly Allison
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.