Social Disconnection and Suicide Risk in Late Life Program (US)

Deadline: 15-Oct-22

The National Institutes of Health seeks to solicit applications for research projects that address the link between social disconnection including both objective social isolation as well as perceived social isolation (otherwise known as loneliness) and suicide in late-life.

Emphasis is placed on research that identifies neurobiological and environmental mechanisms associated with social isolation and loneliness that increase risk for suicidal thoughts and behavior in late-life, that uses an experimental therapeutics approach to identify targets and develop and test interventions to prevent late-life suicide, and that develops new and modifies existing service delivery models to enhance social connection in late-life to prevent suicide.

The purpose of this FOA is to stimulate research to understand the link between social disconnection – including both objective social isolation as well as perceived social isolation (otherwise known as loneliness) – and suicidal thoughts and behaviors in late-life. For the purposes of this FOA, social disconnection can be characterized by structural components (e.g., objectively few social relationships or infrequent social contact, whether driven by individual choice or societal forces), functional components (e.g., low or insufficient levels of social support and feelings of being excluded), and qualitative components (e.g., perceptions that relationships are of poor quality or are dissatisfying).

This FOA is intended to support research designed to identify the neurobiological, behavioral, and social mechanisms underlying social isolation and social disconnection with consideration for the identification of novel targets for future development of prevention and intervention efforts. Studies that leverage concepts, methods, and findings emerging from research on mechanisms in social isolation, social disconnection, and both as predictors of risk/resilience are encouraged.

Funding Information

• Funds Available and Anticipated Number of Awards
  • NIMH intends to commit a total of $4,000,000 in FY 2023 to fund 6-8 awards for this FOA and the companion FOA
  • NIA intends to commit a total of $2,000,000 in FY 2023 to fund 4-6 awards for this FOA and the companion FOA
• Award Budget: The combined budget for direct costs for the two year project period may not exceed $275,000. No more than $200,000 may be requested in any single year.
• Award Project Period: The scope of the proposed project should determine the project period. The maximum project period is 2 years.

Eligibility Criteria

• Higher Education Institutions
  • Public/State Controlled Institutions of Higher Education
  • Private Institutions of Higher Education
  • The following types of Higher Education Institutions are always encouraged to apply for NIH support as Public or Private Institutions of Higher Education:
    • Hispanic-serving Institutions
    • Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
    • Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs)
    • Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions
    • Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs)
• Nonprofits Other Than Institutions of Higher Education
  • Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) IRS Status (Other than Institutions of Higher Education)
  • Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) IRS Status (Other than Institutions of Higher Education)
• For-Profit Organizations
  • Small Businesses
  • For-Profit Organizations (Other than Small Businesses)
• Local Governments
  • State Governments
  • County Governments
  • City or Township Governments
  • Special District Governments
  • Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Federally Recognized)
  • Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized)
• Federal Government
  • Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government
  • U.S. Territory or Possession
• Other
  • Independent School Districts
  • Public Housing Authorities/Indian Housing Authorities
  • Native American Tribal Organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
  • Faith-based or Community-based Organizations
  • Regional Organizations
  • Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions)

For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=337124