Understanding the long-term health effects for people who have lost someone to suicide

Identifying the longitudinal outcomes of suicide loss in a population-based cohort

NIH-funded research Boston University Medical Campus · NIH-11145152

This project looks at how losing a loved one to suicide affects people's mental and physical health over many years.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionBoston University Medical Campus NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Boston, United States)
Project IDNIH-11145152 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

When someone dies by suicide, many people around them are deeply affected, often called 'suicide loss survivors.' This project aims to understand the full range of health challenges these survivors might face, including both mental and physical health issues. We are using extensive health records from Denmark to track these outcomes over a 30-year period. By comparing people who lost someone to suicide with those who lost someone to an accident, we hope to get a clearer picture of the specific impacts of suicide loss.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: This project focuses on individuals who have experienced the loss of a loved one to suicide, particularly those with first-degree relatives who died by suicide.

Not a fit: Patients who have not experienced suicide loss would not directly benefit from this particular research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help us better understand the health needs of suicide loss survivors and inform support programs for them.

How similar studies have performed: Existing literature on suicide loss survivors is limited by a lack of appropriate comparison groups and comprehensive long-term data, making this approach novel in its scale and methodology.

Where this research is happening

Boston, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.