Understanding why older adults hesitate to seek help for suicidal thoughts
Official title: Social Cognitive Mechanisms Underlying Disclosure and Help Seeking Behavior in Late-Life Suicide
Funded at University of California, San Diego · NIH-10954259 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at why older adults might hesitate to share their feelings of sadness or ask for help when they're struggling, focusing on how they see and connect with others, so we can find better ways to support them during tough times.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2023 |
| Project end | October 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $622,425 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH132112-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10954259 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older adults who may be experiencing suicidal thoughts or ideation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not experiencing suicidal thoughts or are not in the older adult age group may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the reasons older adults often do not disclose suicidal thoughts or seek help during crises. It focuses on social cognitive abilities and biases that may affect their perceptions of others and their willingness to reach out for support. By using a validated task to measure social affiliation, the study aims to identify the interpersonal barriers that prevent effective help-seeking behavior in this vulnerable population. The findings could lead to new strategies for improving communication and support systems for older adults at risk of suicide.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved interventions that encourage older adults to seek help and disclose suicidal thoughts, potentially reducing suicide rates in this age group.
How similar studies have gone: While there have been studies on suicide prevention, this specific approach focusing on social cognitive mechanisms in older adults is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Depp, Colin a. — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Depp, Colin a.
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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.