Co-creating a comic about self-harming experiences in young people
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Examining user experiences in co-creating a psycho-educational digital comic on self-harming behaviours in young people: a pilot
IRAS ID
316436
Contact name
Lindsay Smith
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
N/A, N/A
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 5 months, 30 days
Research summary
There remain serious mental health issues for young people which are difficult to discuss and prevent, including self-harm, harmful sexual behaviours and suicidality. As friends, clinicians, carers and educators we need better communication materials to engage, understand and support young people at risk of mental ill health in the community and to signpost towards specialist interventions where needed. The current project will work with young people with experiences of self-harm and suicidality, in a pilot intended to inform future work, to create accessible digital support materials. This will initially be in the form of an online comic/zine that explores youth experiences of self-harm, recovery stories, positive coping skills and contact details for support services. We will investigate youth experiences of participating in a co-design approach to creating comic-based psycho-education materials about self-harming behaviours. A total of 8 young people over the age of 16 years will be invited to take part in a series of 8-10 creative workshops hosted by our arts partner Positive Negatives in their offices at SOAS University of London. We will additionally assess user experience and attitudes to the resource by piloting it with a small group of young people over the age of 13 years, parents/carers and educators in sessions hosted at Harris Academy Bermondsey. The materials will be distributed digitally to increase outreach, particularly amongst marginalised young people and will also be used to engage parents, schools and community youth services in dialogue about positive psycho-education on difficult mental health topics. The project will develop innovative digital tools to empower young people as agents of change in their own health and to increase understanding of youth experiences and knowledge of mental health supports amongst families and communities. The creation of the resource and piloting is expected to take place over a 6-month period.
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester West Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/NW/0393
Date of REC Opinion
21 Dec 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion