Lithium in Alaska Native communities: a hopeful look at suicide prevention
Official title: Lithium as a micronutrient in Alaska Native communities: Exploring suicide prevention in the Northwest Arctic
Funded at Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium · NIH-11366804 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A community-focused study will look at lithium levels in water and traditional foods and test whether low lithium intake relates to suicidality, with a first-of-its-kind low-dose lithium supplementation trial in Northwest Arctic Alaska Native communities.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Anchorage, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $258,135 |
| NIH project number | 1S06GM164730-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11366804 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Alaska Native individuals in the Northwest Arctic region who are part of the participating communities.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not enrolled in the community cohorts or the trial, or those with contraindications to lithium supplementation, may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to understand if lithium exposure from drinking water and local foods is linked to suicide risk among Alaska Native people in the Northwest Arctic. Researchers will measure lithium levels across 12 communities and relate them to individuals’ reports of suicidality. The study also includes a small randomized trial to test whether low-dose lithium supplementation could be a feasible and safe approach for suicide prevention in these communities. The work is led by the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, with community collaboration to ensure culturally respectful and ethical conduct. If successful, findings could inform public health strategies tailored to Arctic Indigenous communities.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could inform evidence-based approaches to reducing suicide risk through environmentally informed nutritional strategies.
How similar studies have gone: Past research has suggested nutrient exposure may influence mood, but this study represents a novel, community-specific trial of lithium supplementation for suicide prevention.
Where this research is happening
-
Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium
Anchorage, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dobson, Jennifer Dawn — Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium
- Study coordinator: Dobson, Jennifer Dawn
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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.