Using health records to spot adults at high risk for suicide
Evaluating Effectiveness and Implementation of a Risk Model for Suicide Prevention Across Health Systems
This project checks whether a computer model that uses electronic health records can help prevent suicide attempts for adults receiving mental health care.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Kaiser Foundation Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Oakland, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11216385 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you receive behavioral health care at one of the participating health systems, this project uses data from your medical record to identify people at higher short-term risk for suicide. Clinicians in the trial receive risk alerts generated by the model and may offer additional support or interventions to those flagged as high risk. The work is being tested in real-world clinics across three large health systems to see how the model works in typical care settings. The main goal is to see whether using the model leads to fewer suicide attempts among adults in these health systems.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults (generally 21 and older) who are receiving behavioral health services within one of the participating health care systems are the intended participants.
Not a fit: People under 21, those not receiving behavioral health care, or individuals who do not get care at the participating health systems would not be eligible and are unlikely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could help clinicians find and support adults at high risk sooner, potentially reducing suicide attempts.
How similar studies have performed: Previous electronic health record–based suicide risk models have shown better accuracy than self-report tools, but they have not been widely tested outside the Veterans Health Administration for reducing suicide attempts.
Where this research is happening
Oakland, UNITED STATES
- Kaiser Foundation Research Institute — Oakland, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yarborough, Bobbijo H. — Kaiser Foundation Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Yarborough, Bobbijo H.
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 below.