Improving mental health responses to minoritized survivors V2
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Using experience-based co-design to improve how mental health and addiction service professionals respond to the needs of minoritized survivors of sexual violence
IRAS ID
294885
Contact name
Kylee Trevillion
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
KCL
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 9 months, 30 days
Research summary
Sexual violence is a major public mental health problem, affecting approximately 20% of women, and can have detrimental consequences for a survivor’s well-being. Survivors who are minoritized because of their race and/or ethnicity experience additional disadvantage, due to oppression, marginalisation and racism. Research indicates mental health and addiction service professionals’ may hold dismissive views and lack the relevant knowledge and skills to respond to the needs of minoritized survivors. There is a need, therefore, to skill and equip professionals on how to identify and respond to sexual violence in an anti-racist and trauma-informed way.
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 minoritized survivors and professionals from mental health and addiction services to co-design an educational resource for professionals that is trauma-informed and promotes anti-racist care for minoritized survivors. This research may benefit other survivors accessing these services.
The following research questions will be addressed: 1. What are the mental health and/or addiction treatment needs, experiences and expectations of minoritized women who are survivors of sexual violence?
2. How do mental health and addiction services professionals’ experience delivering treatment to minoritized survivors of sexual violence?
3. What do minoritized survivors and professionals 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 addiction services within an NHS Trust and third-sector organisations which support people with substance use disorders. The study will comprise of individual interviews with survivors and professionals, and co-design workshops where survivors and professionals to co-design the educational resource. The study will last approximately 22 months.REC name
London - Camden & Kings Cross Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/LO/0487
Date of REC Opinion
8 Jul 2021
REC opinion
Unfavourable Opinion