Systems-Level Risk Detection and Interventions to Reduce Suicide, Ideation, and Behaviors in Youth from Underserved Populations (R34 Clinical Trial Optional) | RFA MH 21 188

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA MH 21 188

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity "Systems-Level Risk Detection and Interventions to Reduce Suicide, Ideation, and Behaviors in Youth from Underserved Populations (R34 Clinical Trial Optional)" (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-MH-21-188; CFDA 93.242) supports early-stage research aimed at reducing suicide risk among youth in underserved populations by improving how service systems identify risk, respond to it, and connect young people to appropriate care. This is an R34 mechanism, which is typically used to fund preliminary studies that establish whether an approach is workable and safe before moving to a larger efficacy or effectiveness trial. The emphasis is on practical, real-world strategies that can be implemented across community-facing settings where at-risk youth actually show up for help, especially in under-resourced environments.

At the center of this opportunity is the idea that preventing youth suicide in underserved communities often depends less on creating brand-new screening tests and more on improving the systems that already touch youths lives. The FOA is looking for multi-level service system interventions that coordinate the full pathway of care: identifying suicide risk, ensuring timely evaluation, and linking youth to treatment and supportive services that fit their needs. The research supported under this announcement is expected to evaluate feasibility (can it be carried out in the intended setting with available staff and resources), acceptability (will youth, families, providers, and organizations use it and view it as appropriate), and safety (does the approach avoid unintended harms). Applicants can also use the award to gather preliminary data that would be necessary to justify and design a later, larger-scale services study focused on efficacy or effectiveness.

The FOA lays out three main objectives. First, investigators should develop a coordinated, multi-level intervention tailored to a clearly defined group of at-risk youth from underserved populations, aligning the intervention to the specific risk profile and care context for that group. Second, the project should test whether the intervention is feasible and shows promise in improving detection of suicide risk and in reducing suicidal ideation and behaviors in that targeted youth population. Third, the work should demonstrate that the intervention can actually be implemented in underserved, under-resourced community settings, and that it has a credible path toward broader adoption and uptake in similar settings. The ultimate aim is to advance evidence-based, system-focused strategies that can meaningfully reduce suicide and suicidal behaviors among youth who face elevated risk and barriers to care.

A key boundary of this funding opportunity is that it is not meant to support the development of new screening tools or new assessment instruments. Instead, it prioritizes systems interventions that improve outcomes by strengthening coordination, workflows, referral pathways, risk response protocols, and linkage to evidence-based services. In other words, the innovation is expected to come from improving how systems function together to detect risk earlier and respond more effectively, rather than inventing a new questionnaire or diagnostic tool.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations involved in health, education, social services, and community support. Eligible applicants include state, county, and local governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses. The FOA also explicitly highlights the participation of institutions and organizations that commonly serve underserved groups, such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions. Foreign institutions are not eligible to apply, non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components are not allowed under NIH policy as referenced in the announcement.

Operationally, this is a discretionary NIH grant opportunity in the health funding activity category. The listing includes an award ceiling of $225,000 and shows an original closing date of 2021-06-29, with a creation date of 2021-04-16. The clinical trial designation is "optional," meaning applicants may propose a clinical trial if their study design meets NIH definitions, but they are not required to include one. Overall, the opportunity is geared toward building credible, scalable, community-relevant approaches that can be tested quickly, refined, and positioned for a subsequent larger study that can more definitively establish impact on youth suicide-related outcomes.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Systems-Level Risk Detection and Interventions to Reduce Suicide, Ideation, and Behaviors in Youth from Underserved Populations (R34 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.242.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2021-04-16.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-06-29. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $225,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

Apply for RFA MH 21 188

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