Noninvasive vagus nerve stimulation plus a peer-support app to help suicidal adolescents
Leveraging Noninvasive Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation and Smartphone Technology to Reduce Suicidal Behaviors and Suicide Among Highly Vulnerable Adolescents
This project combines a gentle, noninvasive nerve-stimulation device with a peer-support smartphone app to reduce suicidal thoughts and behaviors in vulnerable teens.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Notre Dame NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Notre Dame, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11184229 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would get a small, noninvasive device that delivers mild transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) aimed at helping calm intense emotions, and you'd use a peer-support smartphone app designed to reduce social isolation. The study compares each approach alone and in combination to see which helps lower suicidal thoughts and behaviors. The interventions are low-cost, digital-friendly, and built for teens who prefer using their phones; the app works on Android and may use biosensors and regular check-ins. Participation may include remote app use plus some in-person visits at the University of Notre Dame for device setup and follow-up.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adolescents (approximately ages 12–20) who are at high risk for suicide or who have recent suicidal thoughts or behaviors and who can use a smartphone.
Not a fit: This approach is unlikely to help adults or teens with acute medical or psychiatric emergencies requiring inpatient care, and may not benefit those who cannot use smartphones or tolerate the device.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could provide widely available, low-cost tools to reduce suicidal behaviors and improve emotion regulation for at-risk adolescents.
How similar studies have performed: Smartphone peer-support programs and noninvasive vagus nerve stimulation have shown promise separately in early studies, but using them together for suicide prevention in adolescents is largely new.
Where this research is happening
Notre Dame, United States
- University of Notre Dame — Notre Dame, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Valentino, Kristin — University of Notre Dame
- Study coordinator: Valentino, Kristin
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.