Understanding how COVID-19 affects children's mental health and suicide risks
Official title: Leveraging Longitudinal Survey and EHR data to Dissect the Impact of COVID-19 related Stressors and Infections on Child Mental Health and Suicide Risks
Funded at Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ · NIH-10757554 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how COVID-19 has affected kids' mental health over time, especially regarding thoughts of suicide, and it aims to find out which children might be at greater risk and what social factors are making things harder for them, so we can help support their well-being better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $3,231,590 |
| NIH project number | 1RF1MH134649-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10757554 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include children and adolescents under 21 years old, particularly those who are girls, racial/ethnic minorities, or have pre-existing mental health issues.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not children or adolescents, or those who do not have any mental health concerns related to COVID-19, may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the long-term effects of COVID-19 on children's mental health, particularly focusing on suicidal thoughts and behaviors. By analyzing data from surveys and electronic health records, the study aims to identify high-risk children and the social factors that contribute to worsening mental health during and after the pandemic. The research will explore how factors such as gender, race, pre-existing mental health conditions, and exposure to COVID-19 influence these outcomes. The goal is to find actionable insights that can help mitigate the negative impacts of the pandemic on young people's mental health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to targeted interventions that improve mental health outcomes for children affected by COVID-19.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown significant impacts of pandemics on mental health, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Xiao, Yunyu — Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
- Study coordinator: Xiao, Yunyu
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Pediatric Emergency Department Family Navigation to Connect Youth with Suicide and Self-Injury Care
A program helps families navigate emergency department visits for youth with suicide- or self-injury-related concerns to connect them with mental health care.
-
How isolation and COVID-19 affected suicide risk in youth
This project looks at how social isolation during the COVID-19 era may influence suicide risk among people aged 21 and younger.
-
Socioecological factors linked to autism and suicide risk in youth
A large study will look at how personal, community, and system factors influence suicide risk and mental health care for autistic teens and young people.
-
Suicide prevention help for Veterans using VA community care
A program called VA BIC aims to reduce suicide risk among Veterans who receive mental health care outside VA facilities, by providing brief interventions and follow-up contact.
-
Integrating suicide prevention into community mental health programs for mothers in low-resource areas
This study is all about helping mothers during pregnancy and after childbirth by making sure they get the mental health support they need, especially to prevent suicidal thoughts, by training community members to recognize and help with these feelings.
-
How states pay for and run the 988 suicide and mental health crisis hotline
This project looks at how different states fund and put the 988 crisis hotline into practice to help people who call during a mental health emergency.
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.