Study seeks to reduce suicide risk among heavy drinkers
Suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States, and the risk is elevated among people who frequently engage in heavy drinking. With the ultimate goal of saving lives, a team of Georgia State University researchers is studying whether techniques from a common form of talk therapy delivered via text message can reduce the risk of suicide among intoxicated heavy drinkers.
Suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States, with elevated risk among heavy drinkers. Researchers at Georgia State University are exploring whether text-based techniques from dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) can reduce suicide risk among intoxicated individuals. Over five years, 240 Atlanta residents will be divided into control and experimental groups, receiving DBT skills or standard messages.
The study, funded by a $3.4 million NIH grant, aims to address the gap between treatments for alcohol use and suicide risk. Participants will learn "5-7 skills"—expanding awareness and paced breathing—to counteract the narrowed focus of intoxication and promote calm. If effective, these skills could be scaled to help people at risk during moments of self-harm.
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