The role of voluntary organisations in providing support to young people at risk of self-harm or suicide is to be investigated in a new research partnership.
Led by the University of Birmingham, in collaboration with the Universities of Exeter and Bristol, the project is funded by the NIHR within its Three NIHR Research Schools' Mental Health Programme. It will investigate what sort of services are provided by the voluntary sector, but also explore why young people may be more inclined to access these than seek help from primary care or public health services.
Lead researcher Dr Maria Michail said: "Suicide is a leading cause of death among young people in the UK. Many young people with thoughts or behaviours relating to self-harm and suicide do not seek professional help. This is particularly relevant to those from marginalised groups, for example, those in care, care leavers, and those from rural or deprived areas who are at high risk of suicide.
"Instead, we're finding that young people are more willing to access informal support such as helplines and crisis cafes. We need to better understand of why this is, and how those voluntary organisations support young people and work in collaboration with health and social care services."
Research will take place in the West Midlands and South West Peninsula, two regions of significant geographic, ethnic and socioeconomic diversity. Researchers will sample a range of organisations to compare and contrast the services they provide, and investigate how these are experienced by young people.
The aim is to understand young people's experiences of voluntary organisations in these diverse contexts and to find out how those organisations cooperate with health and social services. The project will lead to best practice recommendations for effective collaborative care between voluntary and statutory sectors on youth suicide prevention.
Co-Investigator, Dr Anna Price who co-leads the Primary Care Mental Health theme at the University of Exeter said: "This research will be shaped by insights from young people who are experts through lived experience. We are aiming to understand key factors impacting how diverse young people access and experience support for their mental health across different geographic areas. Also to harness learning from examples of best practice, working together with voluntary and NHS services to explore ways of enhancing current provision."
