Understanding why some adolescents continue to have thoughts of suicide.
Official title: Cognitive and Contextual Factors in Suicide Ideation Persistence in Adolescents
Funded at Western Kentucky University · NIH-10730480 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at what helps or hinders young people in rural areas, aged 14 to 18, who have had thoughts about suicide, so we can better understand how to support them and prevent these feelings from sticking around.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R15 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Western Kentucky University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bowling Green, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2018 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $418,800 |
| NIH project number | 2R15MH113045-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10730480 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are rural adolescents aged 14 to 18 who have a history of suicidal thoughts.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have a history of suicide ideation or are outside the age range of 14 to 18 may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the cognitive and contextual factors that contribute to the persistence of suicide ideation in adolescents, particularly focusing on rural youth. By conducting a 12-month longitudinal study with 225 non-clinical adolescents aged 14 to 18 who have experienced suicidal thoughts, the research aims to identify key factors such as socio-economic status, social support, and personal resilience. The study will analyze how these factors interact and influence the likelihood of ongoing suicidal thoughts, providing valuable insights into prevention strategies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to targeted interventions that reduce the rates of suicide ideation among adolescents.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that understanding cognitive and contextual factors can significantly improve suicide prevention strategies, indicating that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
Western Kentucky University
Bowling Green, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Brausch, Amy Marie — Western Kentucky University
- Study coordinator: Brausch, Amy Marie
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Childhood suicide risk: understanding feelings and caregiver perspectives
A multi-informant study with children aged 8-12 and their caregivers to better predict how childhood thoughts of suicide and distress develop and signal risk.
-
How loneliness and feeling cut off relate to suicidal thoughts in older adults
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-
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This study is looking for ways to better understand and talk about suicidal thoughts in kids aged 8-12 by listening to both the children and their caregivers, using creative methods to capture their feelings and experiences, so we can help keep them safe and supported.
-
Understanding how social disconnection affects suicide risk in older adults.
This study is looking at how feeling lonely or rejected might affect thoughts about suicide in older adults, and it aims to understand how social connections and emotions change over time to help identify those at risk.
-
How social connections can help prevent suicide thoughts in young women who love women
This study is looking at why young women who love other women might think about suicide more than their straight friends, and it wants to find out how having strong friendships and a positive sense of self can help keep them safe, especially during big life changes like starting high school or college.
-
Identifying neighborhood factors that influence youth suicide risk
This study is looking at how things in your neighborhood might influence young people's thoughts about suicide, and it aims to find ways to make communities safer for kids and teens.
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.