A National Evaluation of GoGuardian Beacon and Youth Suicide Trends

This study investigates the association between youth suicide rates and the implementation of GoGuardian Beacon, a digital monitoring tool used in K-12 schools to identify students at risk of self-harm or suicide. Employing a difference-in-differences framework, we analyzed county-level suicide data from 2018 to 2022, comparing trends in 65 counties with sustained Beacon use to 1,236 control counties. Suicide rates were similar before the COVID-19 pandemic, but from 2021 to 2022, treatment counties saw a 26.4% lower average rate – a difference that remained significant after adjusting for demographic and regional covariates. While causal inferences are limited, these results suggest that digital monitoring tools may enhance broader suicide-prevention strategies. This study contributes to the growing evidence on technology-driven, school-based mental health interventions and underscores the need for continued evaluation of their implementation and impact.