Psychosocial assessment and psychological therapy following self-harm
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Mental health assessments and psychological therapy following self-harm
IRAS ID
254949
Contact name
Navneet Kapur
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The University of Manchester
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 2 days
Research summary
Good quality mental health assessments (interviews with a doctor or clinician about what led to the hospital visit for self-harm) are an important part of patient care when a person goes to hospital with self-harm. Clinicians may have the opportunity to therapeutically engage with the patient and evaluate their willingness to stay for further treatment. Patients and clinicians can collaboratively develop care plans and access psychological therapies which may prevent repeat self-harm.
All people who present to hospital with self-harm should receive an assessment of their individual needs. Evidence suggests that the psychological treatments and mental health assessments recommended by the national clinical guidelines can be beneficial in reducing repeat self-harm. However, there are wide differences in the quality of care for people who self-harm. Not everyone receives an assessment or referral to psychological services.
The aim of this study is to find out what helps and does not help people receive mental health assessments and psychological therapies following self-harm. We will seek the views of hospital staff, people with personal experience of self-harm and carers/ significant others to meet this aim.
Interviews will be conducted with mental health staff from our network of mental health Trusts and 32 randomly selected hospitals in England. We will also conduct a National online survey to invite people with personal experience of self-harm and carers/ significant others to share their experiences of mental health assessments and psychological therapies.
The results of this study will provide evidence to inform the National Suicide Prevention Strategy and design of better services for people who self-harm.
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/NW/0839
Date of REC Opinion
21 Dec 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion