Benjamin Chao

Worldwide, suicide remains a leading cause of preventable deaths. However, research and formal analysis on suicidal ideation (and on suicide itself) remains stagnated due to our weak understanding of the mental and social processes that are intertwined to create such feelings leading to an individual deciding to end their life. In my research, we attempt to develop a computational model of how social interactions and an individual’s perception of the world can lead to feelings of helplessness and burdensomeness. This model makes consists of two parts: the first is a ”social setting” where individuals give and receive social energy over many time steps, with biological and unconscious roles affecting each transaction. The second is a state space consisting of normal, suicidal consideration, and suicidal ideation. Attributes of individual’s unconscious perception dictate the probability of occupying each state. Data is planned to be collected from a meta-analysis of previously conducted research, or through a survey study on University of Minnesota students. Simulations of the model will be run, allowing us to examine the changes that occur socially in individuals who begin to idealize suicide. The ultimate goal of this research is to develop effective intervention strategies to implement in our communities.