Research Opportunities in Crisis Response Services for Suicide Prevention

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), through the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), has issued a forecast for a forthcoming funding opportunity titled "Research Opportunities in Crisis Response Services for Suicide Prevention." This grant initiative aims to support research projects that examine the effectiveness and implementation of crisis response practices. It also encourages exploration into strategies that enhance the quality and outcomes of crisis response interventions and assesses the impact of state and local policies on these services. The focus is on real-world settings that account for varied clinical presentations, psychosocial factors, age-related characteristics such as those of youth and older adults, rural or remote geographic contexts, and health disparities. This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), which will employ the R01 activity code, invites researchers with expertise in crisis response and suicide prevention to begin developing proposals. Collaborative efforts among experts in crisis intervention, health systems research, and clinical trials are particularly encouraged. While this is a forecast and not an open solicitation, its early release is intended to give researchers time to prepare competitive applications and form meaningful partnerships. The grant is expected to open for applications on September 8, 2025, with a submission deadline of October 8, 2025. Awards are anticipated to be announced by July 1, 2026, which is also the estimated project start date. The projected total program funding is $2,000,000, and approximately five awards are expected to be distributed. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement for this funding opportunity. Eligible applicants include a wide array of organizations such as state governments, federally and non-federally recognized tribal organizations, independent school districts, higher education institutions (both public and private), public housing authorities, and both nonprofit and for-profit organizations including small businesses. The eligibility criteria are broad, enabling participation from various entities engaged in mental health services and research. Contact for the grant is Jennifer Humensky, Ph.D., of the National Institute of Mental Health. She can be reached by phone at 301-480-1265 or via email at jennifer.humensky@nih.gov for additional information. As this is a forecasted opportunity, potential applicants are advised to monitor Grants.gov for the official NOFO and further application details when posted.

Applicants are encouraged to develop meaningful collaborations and begin preparing projects now to be competitive when the NOFO is officially released.