Depression, suicidal thoughts, and tech-based supports for rural adults
Official title: Prospective Cohort of Rural US Adults to Definitively Characterize Depression and Suicidal Ideation Burdens, Determinants, and Preferred Intervention Approaches
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-11416503 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project follows 2,000 adults in rural U.S. communities for a year to learn which social and economic factors lead to depression and suicidal thoughts and which technology-based supports people prefer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2022 |
| Project end | February 28, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $741,257 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH129656-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11416503 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults aged 21 and older living in rural counties or small cities in the United States who are at higher risk for poor mental health or suicidal thoughts would be the ideal participants.
✕Less likely to help
People under 21, those living in large urban areas, or individuals without reliable internet access are unlikely to be eligible or to benefit from this online-focused effort.
What this research studies
If you join, you will enroll online and complete repeated questionnaires over 12 months about your mood, life circumstances, and access to services. The team will focus on adults from rural counties and small cities across the United States who are at higher risk for poor mental health. They will look at which social, geographic, and economic factors are linked to current or new depression and suicidal thoughts or attempts. You will also be asked which types of technology-delivered mental health options (like apps, telehealth, or text supports) feel acceptable to you.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to better-targeted prevention and tech-based supports to reduce depression and suicide risk in rural communities.
How similar studies have gone: Some technology-delivered mental health programs have helped people in other settings, but evidence specifically for rural adults is limited and mixed.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Murray, Sarah Sutherlin-Mcivor — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Murray, Sarah Sutherlin-Mcivor
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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.