Understanding how suicide risk spreads on social media among young adults
Official title: Suicide Transmission Dynamics on Social Media: Modeling Risk, Understanding Platform Differences, and Exploring Ethical Implications Among Young Adults
Funded at Dartmouth College · NIH-11417261 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project studies how suicidal thoughts and behaviors may spread online among 18–25-year-olds using Twitter/X and Reddit, with real-time data and smart devices.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Dartmouth College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hanover, United States) |
| Project start | September 11, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $702,860 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH141030-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11417261 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Young adults aged 18–25 who actively engage with suicide-related content on Twitter/X or Reddit and consent to long-term monitoring.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not using social media or those not engaging with suicide-related content may not experience direct benefit.
What this research studies
Young adults who already engage with suicide-related content will be recruited to follow their social media activity and mood over 90 days using a mix of active reporting and passive data. The researchers will combine computational analysis of posts, language patterns, and network dynamics with real-time self-reports to model how risk may propagate on platforms like Twitter/X and Reddit. The goal is to identify modifiable factors that could inform safer platform designs and targeted prevention efforts while protecting participant safety and privacy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could guide prevention strategies that reduce the spread of suicide risk on social media and inform platform policies to better support vulnerable young people.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research shows associations between social media use and suicide risk, but this project adds real-time modeling and cross-platform comparison.
Where this research is happening
-
Dartmouth College
Hanover, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jacobson, Nicholas Charles — Dartmouth College
- Study coordinator: Jacobson, Nicholas Charles
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Understanding Invisible Suicide Risks in Youth: A National Study in Guyana
A nationwide study in Guyana aims to learn about hidden factors that contribute to suicide risk among young people so we can prevent tragedy.
-
Mobile safety planning for at-risk young adults
A digital, text-based safety planning program for young adults (ages 18–24) to help prevent suicide and stay connected to support.
-
Reducing firearm suicide among Veterans with peer-delivered counseling
A VA-funded project tests whether peer-delivered counseling helps Veterans store firearms more securely and reduces suicide risk.
-
How School Cellphone Rules Might Affect Youth Suicide and Violence
A study will look at whether restricting students’ use of cellphones at school influences rates of suicidal thoughts and interpersonal violence among youth.
-
INCLUSAVE: helping young adults with IDD access suicide-prevention trainings
A new NIH grant studies whether two proven gatekeeper trainings (ASIST and safeTALK) can be delivered in inclusive settings to support young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their communities.
-
A universal school program to help middle schoolers stay emotionally regulated and safer
A school-based program teaches students calming skills to reduce violence and thoughts of self-harm, tested in a randomized trial with middle schoolers.
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.