Primary care loneliness programs to prevent suicide
Official title: Development and Pilot Study of Primary Care Loneliness Interventions to Prevent Suicide
Funded at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-11084462 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will try two short loneliness programs—social prescribing and brief cognitive therapy—in primary care to help adults who feel lonely and may have suicidal thoughts.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| 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 | July 15, 2023 |
| Project end | September 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $234,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R34MH132808-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11084462 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults (age 21+) seen in participating primary care clinics who report significant loneliness and may have depression, anxiety, or suicidal thoughts would be ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People who are not lonely, who need intensive specialty psychiatric care (for example active suicidal intent, psychosis, or severe substance use), or who cannot access participating clinics may not benefit from these brief primary care interventions.
What this research studies
If you're an adult visiting a primary care clinic and feel lonely, this project adapts two brief approaches—social prescribing, which links you to community activities, and brief cognitive therapy, which teaches skills to change unhelpful thoughts—for delivery by behavioral health staff in primary care. In a pilot three-arm randomized design, patients will be assigned to social prescribing, brief cognitive therapy, or usual care to see which approach most reduces loneliness and suicidal ideation. The team will work with primary care behavioral health care managers to tailor the programs to clinic workflows and will measure loneliness, mood, and safety-related outcomes over the study period. The project focuses on adults aged 21 and older.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these approaches could give primary care teams practical tools to reduce loneliness and lower suicide risk for patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous primary care loneliness programs have had mixed results, though social prescribing and brief cognitive therapies have shown promise in other settings but are not yet established in primary care.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pfeiffer, Paul Nelson — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Pfeiffer, Paul Nelson
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Confidential teen suicide prevention in primary care across 30 clinics
A nationwide health system is testing a confidential, teen-friendly suicide prevention approach in 30 primary care clinics to help prevent teen suicidality.
-
Teens’ confidential suicide prevention in primary care
A nationwide program in 30 primary care clinics tests whether confidential teen suicide prevention tools in routine visits reduce suicidal outcomes and improve care.
-
Using AI on health record notes to find loneliness and suicide risk in older adults
This project uses artificial intelligence to read doctors' notes and medical records to spot loneliness and help reduce suicide risk for older adults.
-
Preventing teen suicide through confidential care in primary care clinics
This study is looking at how well private care can help prevent suicide in teens by making it easier for them to talk about their feelings and get the support they need during doctor visits.
-
Improving Suicide Prevention in Primary Care
This project explores how new computer tools can help primary care doctors better identify and support individuals at risk of suicide.
-
Improving suicide prevention methods for children in primary care settings
This study is working on new ways for doctors who care for kids to help prevent suicide by using tools like a website for screening, a smartphone app for safety plans, and text reminders, all aimed at supporting young people who are struggling with their mental health during regular check-ups.
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.