What began as a big idea has taken a bold step forward. We have published our first findings from the Black Box Project® in a groundbreaking white paper.
This initiative is reshaping how we understand and prevent suicide, especially among veterans and service members.
At its core, the Black Box Project is about learning from loss. With the support of families who entrusted us with their loved ones’ cell phones after suicide, our team has analyzed digital data to uncover patterns that were previously invisible. Using machine learning, artificial intelligence, and custom-built algorithms, we are beginning to identify behavioral markers that often precede suicide — signs that even the closest friends and family couldn’t see in real time.
SSS Chief Product Officer Austin Grimes said, “Black Box Project® provides researchers with a view into suicide that’s never been possible before. It’s our best bet to build a deeper understanding of suicide and, ultimately, save more lives.”
This work is a first of its kind. And the insights revealed in our newly published white paper are already pointing to life-saving potential.
Among the key findings:
Sleep changes are a strong correlate of suicide risk.
Financial stress consistently shows up as a major and sustained pressure point in the final year of life.
Suicidal individuals often present a composed external facade, masking their internal crisis.
We can now identify Known Moments of Risk (KMORs) that were previously hidden.
These findings are more than data points — they are opportunities. They give clinicians, researchers, and data scientists new tools to better assess risk, offer timely support, and design personalized care strategies. Most importantly, they give families hope that their loved one’s story is contributing to a future where fewer lives are lost.
“Our progress with the Black Box Project is deeply rooted in the extraordinary generosity of many,” said Kathy Kauffmann, Chief Development Officer. “We are particularly humbled by the families who entrusted us with their loved ones' devices, providing invaluable insights. This critical work, fueled by generous donors, foundations, corporate partners, volunteers, and academic institutions, is driving us forward in suicide prevention efforts that are both data-informed and scalable. This collective commitment will undeniably save more lives.”
The Black Box Project was honored with a first-place award in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Mission Daybreak challenge, earning a $3 million prize to support its growth. It has also been made possible through the dedication of key technology partners like Amazon Web Services, Pariveda, Cellebrite, and Magnet Forensics — organizations helping to build the infrastructure that makes this work possible.
And at the center of it all are the families. Their courage in sharing their loved ones’ final digital moments is what makes this work not only possible, but profoundly human.
“As a suicide loss survivor, I know how deeply we want our loved one’s story to matter. The Black Box Project's white paper and it's findings honor those we've lost to suicide like my brother, and honors the courageous families grieving that loss—turning their heartbreak into hope that another life can be saved,” said Kim Burditt Bartlett, Senior Manager of Family Engagement for Black Box Project®
We invite you to learn more about the Black Box Project® and to read the full white paper. Whether you’re a clinician, data scientist, loss survivor, philanthropist, or someone who cares deeply about suicide prevention, this is a moment to join us in moving from loss to action.
