Uncovering silent struggles: How data science in Raleigh aims to prevent veteran suicides

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Austin Grimes spent eight years serving in the U.S. Army, and he knows firsthand the challenges many military members face.

“I’ve absolutely lost both friends and service members to suicide,” said Grimes, of Raleigh.   

Since leaving the army, He has spent the past year and a half with the nonprofit Stop Soldier Suicide

in Raleigh as the chief product officer, focusing on the Black Box Project.

“We partner with families who have unfortunately lost loved ones to suicide. They loaned these devices to us,” said Grimes.

He says the research found that, after analyzing data from over 100 donated devices, they were able to use forensic approaches, data science machines, and AI to understand the digital footprints that precede suicide, potentially saving lives.

“We absolutely see that these individuals maintain an external facade, meaning if you think about the things you do on your device that the world around you can see text messages, phone calls, emails, we see a steady risk pattern in the final year of life,” said Grimes.   

He says other discoveries include sleep changes and financial stress.   

And he says there is the heartbreaking reality.

“We lose 6,500 on average each year in the veteran population alone; we also lose 50,000 Americans at large outside of that community,” said Grimes. 

That’s why he emphasizes the need to lead with love and kindness. “Empathy matters and understanding matters and being non-judgmental as you can matters,” said Grimes.   

You can read more about the findings from the research by accessing the white paper here.