Collaborative Study of Suicidality and Mental Health in the U.S. Army (U01)

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Purpose.The high rates of mental health and behavioral adjustment problems among recent U.S. military combat veterans, and the increasing rates of suicide among Army soldiers, are of growing concern.This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), issued by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), in collaboration with the U.S. Army, solicits cooperative research project grant (U01) applications aimed at conducting an epidemiologic study of mental health, psychological resilience, suicide risk, suicide-related behaviors, and suicide deaths in the U.S. Army. This study will evaluate selected samples of soldiers across all phases of Army service, both cross-sectionally and longitudinally, including entry-level training and service, pre-deployment training, deployment and non-combat assignments, post-deployment, and post-separation reintegration to civilian life. The intent is to identify, as rapidly as scientifically possible, modifiable risk and protective factors and moderators of suicide-related behaviors. Once modifiable factors are identified, investigators will identify specific intervention options for reducing suicide risk by addressing empirically-identified risk and protective factors, and develop initial research designs for subsequent research that may test practical suicide risk reduction efforts. (Finalizing the design and implementation of intervention and screening trials lies outside the scope of this project). The overall objective of this research is to evaluate multiple determinants of suicide-related events, including potentially protective mechanisms, with the intent of informing the development of effective strategies for mitigating suicide risk and enhancing the resilience of Army personnel across all phases of Army service. In all aspects of this project, NIMH and the Army specifically seek to foster innovative methods to maximize the scientific and practical value of this research. Mechanism of Support. This FOA will utilize the NIH Cooperative Agreement (U01) award mechanism. Funds Available and Anticipated Number of Awards. The U.S. Army and NIMH have committed up to $10 million total costs in Fiscal Year 2009 to fund one application submitted in response to this FOA.

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