Exposure to others’ suicide attempts is a major risk factor for suicide attempts among young people, yet, the exact reason for this is unclear. As research and theory contends that social processes play a crucial role in suicidal thoughts and behaviours (STBs) – and exposure is a social process — we sought to investigate a potential social interactive pathway between exposure and STBs in young people. As both STBs and social interaction are dynamic, daily-life processes, we set up two studies using the experience sampling method (ESM): the SCOUT-Clinical study (target N=75) investigating daily life social interaction in 18 – 25 year-olds with a recent (past month) suicide attempt and the SCOUT-Community study (target N=150) looking at daily life social interaction in 18 – 25 year-olds with a friend who has recently (past month) survived a suicide attempt. In both studies, to investigate suicidal thoughts and behaviours and social interactions in daily life, we use ESM, whereby participants complete brief questionnaires 10 x per day for six days via their smartphone. ESM follow-up assessments are repeated one and three months after baseline assessment. Participants’ ESM responses are monitored as part of the studies’ safety protocol and where there is a concern about a participant’s safety, the research team contact the participant and notify the participant’s clinician. Developing a safety procedure that was also acceptable to clinicians was challenging and carrying out the safety protocol puts significant responsibility on the research team, including out of hours working. Recruitment for the both SCOUT studies commenced on 1st June 2022 and to date, we have recruited N=12 participants for the SCOUT-Clinical study across seven sites and N=19 participants for the SCOUT-Community study through online and local recruitment ads. Recruitment for both studies has been consistently slow throughout the project and the original fellowship funding for the project ended in August 2023. In November 2023, we expanded the inclusion criteria for the SCOUT-Clinical study to include individuals with active suicidal ideation in the past month. However, this has yet to result in a significant improvement in recruitment. Regular involvement of clinicians at recruiting sites has been crucial for trying to understand the barriers to improving recruitment, but the exact reasons for our recruitment difficulties remain elusive.