Understanding Self-harm, Supporting Healing
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Understanding Self-Harm and Supporting Healing: a survivor-led qualitative investigation into the construction and perception of self-harm across clinical and lived experience perspectives, employing participatory methodology
IRAS ID
349855
Contact name
Angela Sweeney
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
N/A, N/A
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 2 months, 31 days
Research summary
This research explores self-harm, aiming to understand how it is experienced by both healthcare professionals and people with lived experience (LE). In clinical settings, self-harm is often seen as a harmful behaviour used to manage negative emotions, with the goal of encouraging individuals to stop. However, people with LE of self-harm might view this as oversimplified and unhelpful, describing it as a physical expression of trauma and relational conflict, including negative experiences with mental health services. The project addresses two key questions: "How is self-harm understood and experienced from both clinical and LE perspectives?" and "What are the implications for personal, societal, and healthcare system perceptions of self-harm?" The researcher leading the study has both personal experience of self-harm and professional experience as a nurse working with people who self-harm. The research is supported by individuals with LE of self-harm, ensuring the study is relevant and valid. The research will use interviews to explore differences in how healthcare professionals and individuals with LE understand and experience self-harm. Participants will include clinicians who have worked with self-harm service-users and people with LE. Interviews will take place via email, telephone, online, or in person at NHS services or King’s College London. Participants will also be encouraged to use art to help express their experiences, if helpful. The findings aim to improve understanding of self-harm, potentially enhancing healthcare knowledge and making services more relevant and supportive for people who self-harm. This research is funded by the London Interdisciplinary Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership.
REC name
London - Camden & Kings Cross Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/LO/0405
Date of REC Opinion
24 Jun 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion