A window of (missed) opportunity? - V.1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A window of (missed) opportunity? Exploring minor-attracted adults' experiences of suicidality and mental health service interactions, to facilitate improved outcomes
IRAS ID
336644
Contact name
Rachel Murphy
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Central Lancashire
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/GY74N, Open Science Framework; CRD42024505207, Prospero
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 10 months, 0 days
Research summary
This study is being undertaken as part of a Doctoral Local Authority Fellowship, funded through the National Institute for Health and Care Research.
Emerging research has found that there is a significant population of non-offending adults who experience sexual attraction to children, who suffer with internalised stigma, poor mental health and chronic suicidal ideation. Furthermore, they are reluctant to access professional mental health support, and such statutory services are ill-equipped for managing disclosures of child sexual attraction. Concerningly however, poor and untreated mental health can increase the risk of offending and of suicide.
This study seeks to understand how statutory mental health services can develop their approach towards engaging and supporting non-offending, minor-attracted adults, to reduce suicidality and support the prevention of child abuse.
This will be achieved through initially completing a systematic review of the existing research that identifies factors influencing the engagement between minor-attracted adults and mainstream mental health services. Two focus groups of up to 6 Local Authority mental health practitioners will then be convened online, for 60-minutes each, to explore practitioners’ current understanding and perception of minor-attracted adults, their risk and support needs.
Equipped with the learning from these processes, interviews of approximately 60-minutes will then be conducted with approximately 10-15 adults who have experienced child sexual attraction and suicidal thoughts. People will be invited to become involved in the interviews through advertisements on websites that offer support to adults with child sexual attraction. Three international organisations that offer such support have agreed to assist with this.
The interviews will be held remotely with participants remaining anonymous if preferred. This information will be analysed, to identify the shared experiences and key messages being conveyed regarding the interplay between minor-attraction, suicidality, mental health service interactions and risk. The online practitioner focus groups will then be reconvened to discuss the findings.REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Leeds West Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/YH/0155
Date of REC Opinion
18 Jul 2024
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion