Improving mental health responses to minoritized survivors; v1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Using experience-based co-design to improve how mental health and substance use service professionals respond to the needs of minoritized survivors of sexual violence.
IRAS ID
304729
Contact name
Kylee Trevillion
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 8 months, 30 days
Research summary
Sexual violence, defined as any unwanted sexual act or activity (such as but not limited to rape, sexual abuse including in childhood, sexual assault, sexual harassment, forced marriage and female genital mutilation), affects 20% of women and can have detrimental consequences for a survivor’s well-being. Survivors who are racially and ethnically minoritized experience additional disadvantage, due to oppression, marginalisation and racism. Research indicates mental health and substance use service professionals can hold dismissive views and lack the relevant knowledge and skills to respond to the needs of minoritized survivors. There is a need, therefore, to improve understanding and expectations of minoritized survivors when accessing these services.
A participatory approach experience-based co-design (EBCD), which involves patients and professionals working together to create solutions to clinical practice, may be a potential method to help professionals understand what survivors require of them in treatment. This research aims to bring together professionals and minoritized survivors from mental health and substance use services to co-design an educational resource for professionals to use in their practice. This research may benefit other survivors accessing these services. The following research questions will be addressed:
1. What are the mental health and substance use treatment needs, experiences and expectations of minoritized women who are survivors of sexual violence?
2. How do mental health and substance use professionals experience delivering treatment to minoritized survivors of sexual violence?
3. What do professionals and survivors believe is important to include in an educational resource for professionals to use in their practice?This research will be conducted across mental health and substance use services within an NHS Trust and third-sector organisations. The study will comprise of individual interviews with survivors and professionals, and co-design workshops. The study will last approximately 20 months.
REC name
West Midlands - Coventry & Warwickshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/WM/0225
Date of REC Opinion
6 Dec 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion