Exploring how life changes affect suicide risk
Official title: Aging, Major Life Transitions, and Suicide Risk
Funded at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-11220794 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how big life changes, like moving, changing jobs, or shifts in relationships, might affect the risk of suicide, and it’s designed to help understand these risks better so we can find ways to prevent them for people at different stages of life.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2022 |
| Project end | April 23, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $90,613 |
| NIH project number | 3R01MH128198-04S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11220794 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include adults experiencing significant life changes, particularly those aged 25 and older.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not experiencing major life transitions or who are under 25 years old may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the relationship between major life transitions, such as changes in social relationships, health, work, and residence, and the risk of suicide. By analyzing existing datasets from two longitudinal studies, the research aims to identify factors that may predict or mitigate suicide risk across different stages of life. The study will also consider individual characteristics like age, sex, and mental health history, as well as contextual factors like neighborhood conditions. This comprehensive approach seeks to provide insights that could inform public health strategies for suicide prevention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved strategies for identifying and supporting individuals at risk of suicide during critical life transitions.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success in identifying risk factors for suicide using similar longitudinal approaches, indicating that this methodology is both valid and valuable.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mezuk, Briana — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Mezuk, Briana
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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How major life changes relate to suicide risk across adulthood
This project looks at how big life changes—like losing a job, moving, getting sick, or losing a partner—relate to thinking about suicide, attempts, and suicide deaths in adults of different ages.
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Investigating how life changes affect suicide risk
This study looks at how big life changes, like moving, changing jobs, or shifts in friendships, can affect the risk of suicide at different ages, and it aims to find ways to help prevent this risk by understanding what factors might make it better or worse.
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Helping aging caregivers of Alzheimer's patients reduce suicide risk.
This study is looking to help family members and friends who care for people with Alzheimer's and similar conditions by teaching them special skills to manage stress and emotions, making it easier for them to cope and feel better.
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Aging Well with HIV: Alcohol, Risk Reduction, and Education Center (AWAR3E)
A center at Yale is exploring how aging with HIV interacts with alcohol use to create inflammation and frailty, with the goal of finding biomarkers and potential treatments.
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Cognitive SuperAging: Exploring why some octogenarians stay sharp in memory
This NIH grant studies why a small group of people aged 80+ keep memory skills as good as much younger people, hoping to understand how to protect memory as we age.
-
Biological aging across the lifespan through a national high school-to-adult study
This grant uses a long-running national study of students and adults to collect saliva biomarkers of aging, alongside surveys, to understand how aging markers relate to health and life experiences.
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.