Future Directions: Targeting Social Contribution in Youth Suicide Prevention

Suicidal ideation as a potential precipitator for suicidal behavior is currently highly prevalent and persistent among youth populations. Preadolescent and adolescent populations undergo social development with increasing salience of self-awareness regarding other- and self-perceptions in sophisticating interpersonal relationships. Recent theory-driven intervention research shows that youth perceived burdensomeness, an interpersonal risk factor for suicidal ideation identified across multiple theories, can be mitigated through weighted emphasis on perceived social contribution. In this paper, we highlight the promise of emerging interventions designed to reduce perceived burdensomeness and delineate potential pathways for the integration of social contribution into evidence-based treatments of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in youth. The various future avenues through which social contribution could be effectively fostered across nonclinical settings are also discussed, including the use of digital technologies. Future research should explore optimal methods for incorporating social contribution into various therapeutic and community modalities and evaluate the long-term impact on interpersonal needs and suicidal ideation in vulnerable youth populations.