The ’listen-up!’ project version 1

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  The ’listen-up!’ project: understanding and helping looked-after young people who self-harm.

• IRAS ID

  143804

• Research summary

  Each year approximately 200,000 episodes of self-harm are seen in general hospitals in England and Wales and many more hidden episodes occur in the community. Self-harm, a sign of serious emotional distress, is not well understood by academics and clinicians, and is widely recognized as a key factor linked to the risk of eventual suicide.
  Self-harm in young people appears to be increasingly common. Looked-after young people (living in residential care or with foster parents) are at particularly high risk of self-harmful behaviour (and have more complex needs than other young people who self-harm) yet there is sparse research targeting this group.
  In the present study we will address current gaps in knowledge about which factors most influence the initiation and maintenance of self-harm in looked-after young people and care leavers using semi-structured interviews (both face-to-face and computerised).
  Our aim is to increase understanding of the experience of self-harm in looked-after young people (aged 11-21 years). We will also include young people who self-harm but who have no experience of the care system. We will investigate:
  - What factors influence recovery from self-harm and what services/supports are helpful or unhelpful? Which services/supports and therapies are helpful and which are not?
  - What support is needed that is not available now?
  - To what extent are the specific needs of looked-after young people provided for in services?
  - Are there common sequences or pathways into and out of self-harm?
  This information will help in the future development of services designed to help young people who self-harm.
  The study will be based in Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire. This project is funded by the Department of Health as part of research initiative to support the implementation of the National Suicide Prevention Strategy.

• REC name

  Social Care REC

• REC reference

  14/IEC08/0015

• Date of REC Opinion

  23 May 2014

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion