# Promoting Social Connection to Prevent Late-Life Suicide

> **NIH NIH R61** · UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER · 2024 · $631,358

## Abstract

Promoting Social Connection to Prevent Late-Life Suicide
Older adults have high rates of suicide and projections indicate subsequent cohorts will usher in even higher
rates. We can expect an increase in suicide deaths among older adults in coming decades. However, there are
no evidence-based interventions to prevent suicide deaths in later life, and scant data support strategies to
prevent suicide deaths at any age. Social disconnection is a promising intervention target for late-life suicide
prevention, but it is not known whether targeting social connection is an effective strategy to prevent suicide in
later life.
The objective of this R61/R33 proposal, in line with NIMH priorities of reducing suicide and understanding
mechanisms, is to test whether a behavioral intervention—Social Engage Coaching (S-ENG)—reduces suicide
risk in later life (clinical outcome) via social connection (target mechanism). We propose a two-phase
experimental therapeutics project with multimodal assessment of objective and subjective indicators of social
connection (via smartphone assessments). The R61 is a single-arm trial of S-ENG (n=30) with 1 week of
smartphone-based target assessment at baseline, 8-weeks, and 16-weeks. The R33 is an RCT (S-ENG vs.
eCAU; n=120) with longer duration follow-up to test clinical impact (20-weeks). Subjects are lonely older adults
in Senior Living Communities (SLCs) who endorse suicide ideation. Study conditions are S-ENG (10 individual
coaching sessions) and enhanced usual-care in SLCs (eCAU; exposure to SLC milieu with geriatrician medical
directors).
Our first aim for the R61 phase is to test target engagement (social connection). We hypothesize that S-ENG
will be associated with increases in four indices of social connection. Our go/no-go criteria will determine if we
move to the R33 phase: At least two indices of social connection must evidence clinically meaningful
improvement—one objective and one subjective. If go/no-go criteria are met, we will address two aims for the
R33 phase. First, to confirm target engagement in a randomized trial. We hypothesize that S-ENG (vs. eCAU)
will be associated with greater increases in social connection. Second, to examine clinical and functional
indices of reduced suicide risk. We hypothesize that S-ENG (vs. eCAU) will be associated with greater
improvement in suicide ideation and quality of life at 20-week follow-up and improvement in social connection
at 16-weeks will be associated with reduction in indices of suicide risk.
A confirmatory efficacy trial will follow this study. Promoting social connection to prevent suicide is an under-
studied but promising strategy to address mental health and well-being in later life.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10751002
- **Project number:** 5R61MH129476-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Kimberly Allison Van Orden
- **Activity code:** R61 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $631,358
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-01-01 → 2025-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10751002

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10751002, Promoting Social Connection to Prevent Late-Life Suicide (5R61MH129476-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10751002. Licensed CC0.

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