Uncovering proximal antecedents to Black male suicide using real-time approaches

PROJECT SUMMARY The need for more robust evidence to predict risk and prevent suicide among Black youth is critical in light of the rapidly rising rates of suicidal behaviors in this population. As the third leading cause of death in Black youth aged 12-18, the timely identification of suicide risk is a critical public health priority. Yet, there is a fundamental gap in suicide research focused on Black populations in these transitional developmental stages due to limited investigations of everyday stressors as a unique antecedent to suicide and its potentially synergistic effect on known risk factors. Digital phenotyping platforms offers an innovative opportunity to collect real-time data associated with everyday stressors by integrating active (e.g. ecological momentary assessment-EMA) and passive (e.g. GPS, accelerometer, etc.) data using smartphones. Refined digital phenotyping platforms may provide more granular insights towards Black youth’s proximal suicide risk by assessing time-varying factors as they naturally occur. Specifically, the candidate plans to address the following specific aims: (1) Modify an existing digital phenotyping protocol for appropriate use among Black youth; (2) Conduct a pilot digital phenotyping study among a re-contacted and newly recruited psychiatric sample of Black youth to determine feasibility and acceptability of real-time assessments of suicidology in the study population. The proposed K01 project enhances the candidate's prior research in mental health disparities and health services research among Black adolescents and will uniquely position the candidate to enhance suicide risk detection methodologies using real-time and engaging digital strategies. To achieve these career objectives, the applicant will work with a highly skilled mentorship team to build four areas of expertise relevant to this research agenda: (1) intensive longitudinal design and analysis, (2) suicide risk identification, (3) engaged and responsive recruitment and retention strategies, and (4) translation of research for suitability in youth populations. The K01 award will increase the applicants’ capabilities as an independent researcher to develop and test fully powered real-time smartphone-based approaches among youth.