title: Reducing the burden of suicide in the U.S.: the aspirational research goals of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention Research Prioritization Task Force.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention Research Prioritization Task Force (RPTF) has created a prioritized national research agenda with the potential to rapidly and substantially reduce the suicide burden in the U.S. if fully funded and implemented.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Viable, sustainable scientific research agendas addressing challenging public health issues such as suicide often need to incorporate perspectives from multiple stakeholder groups (e.g., researchers, policymakers, and other end-users of new knowledge) during an agenda-setting process. The Stakeholder Survey was a web-based survey conducted and analyzed in 2011-2012 to inform the goal-setting step in the RPTF agenda development process. The survey process, and the final list of "aspirational" research goals it produced, are presented here.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a modified Delphi process, diverse constituent groups generated and evaluated candidate research goals addressing pressing suicide prevention research needs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 716 respondents representing 49 U.S. states and 18 foreign countries provided input that ultimately produced 12 overarching, research-informed aspirational goals aimed at reducing the U.S. suicide burden. Highest-rated goals addressed prevention of subsequent suicidal behavior after an initial attempt, strategies to retain patients in care, improved healthcare provider training, and generating care models that would ensure accessible treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Stakeholder Survey yielded widely valued research targets. Findings were diverse in focus, type, and current phase of research development but tended to prioritize practical solutions over theoretical advancement. Other complex public health problems requiring input from a broad-based constituency might benefit from web-based tools that facilitate such community input.
authors.affiliation: University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas. Electronic address: cindy.claassen@unthsc.edu.
authors.forename: Cynthia A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Claassen
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Mental Health, Division of Services and Intervention Research, Bethesda, Maryland.
authors.forename: Jane L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Pearson
authors.affiliation: RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, California.
authors.forename: Dmitry
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Khodyakov
authors.affiliation: The Jed Foundation, New York, New York; National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention, Washington, District of Columbia.
authors.forename: Phillip M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Satow
authors.affiliation: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gebbia
authors.affiliation: American Association of Suicidology, Washington, District of Columbia; American Association for Suicide Prevention, Washington, District of Columbia.
authors.forename: Alan L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Berman
authors.affiliation: Suicide Awareness Voices of Education, Bloomington.
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Reidenberg
authors.affiliation: United Behavioral Health, Golden Valley, Minnesota.
authors.forename: Saul
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Feldman
authors.affiliation: George Washington University, Dept. of Psychology, Washington, District of Columbia.
authors.forename: Sherry
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Molock
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins University, Dept. of Mental Health, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: Michelle C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Carras
authors.affiliation: The Catholic University of America, Dept. of Psychology, Washington, District of Columbia.
authors.forename: René M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Lento
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Mental Health, Division of Services and Intervention Research, Bethesda, Maryland.
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sherrill
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Mental Health, Division of Services and Intervention Research, Bethesda, Maryland.
authors.forename: Beverly
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pringle
authors.affiliation: RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, California.
authors.forename: Siddhartha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dalal
authors.affiliation: Office of the Director, Bethesda, Maryland.
authors.forename: Thomas R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Insel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D026683:Advisory Committees; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003697:Delphi Technique; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011634:Public Health; D012106:Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D000092864:Suicide Prevention
references.citation: BMJ. 1999 May 8;318(7193):1225-6
references.pmid: 10231231
references.citation: J Safety Res. 2017 Jun;61:211-215
references.pmid: 28454867
references.citation: Crisis. 2013;34(3):147-55
references.pmid: 23628664
references.citation: J Clin Psychiatry. 2001;62 Suppl 25:17-26
references.pmid: 11765091
references.citation: Suicide Life Threat Behav. 1989 Spring;19(1):131-46
references.pmid: 2652385