Young Voices At The Heart Of Mental Health Research
A new research project is being highlighted on World Suicide Prevention Day (10 September) as it aims to transform understanding of self-harm and suicide among children and young people, particularly those in contact with social care and explore ways in which vulnerable young people can be better supported.
Drawing on over a decade of experience in suicide prevention and self-harm research, Dr Amanda Marchant, a Research Fellow at Swansea University Medical School, will bring together health, social care data online insights and lived experience to inform better mental health support and policy.
She said: “We’ve seen big advances in understanding self-harm in healthcare settings. Now we want to apply that same evidence-based approach to social care, where there is huge potential to support some of the most vulnerable young people in our society.”
Dr Marchant has been awarded a Social Care Research Fellowship by the Health and Care Research Wales Faculty to lead the study.
She is supported by mentors Professor Ann John, Director of the National Centre for Suicide Prevention and Self-Harm Research and Professor Jonathan Scourfield, Deputy Director of the Children’s Social Care Research and Development Centre (CASCADE) Partnership. Both centres are also funded by Health and Care Research Wales.
The research uses anonymised health, social care and education data from the Secure Anonymised Information Linkage (SAIL) Databank, alongside insights from the peer support app TalkLife, which is popular among young people seeking mental health support online.
The project will also expand the SHARE UK Research Register, a register of more than 2,000 people who have consented to be contacted for self-harm research. The register will be extended to include young people with lived experience of social care and self-harm, enabling them to contribute directly to this and future studies.
Participants will co-design surveys and interviews, help interpret findings and shape policy recommendations. SHARE UK has already supported studies internationally.
Dr Marchant said: “Engaging young people meaningfully is at the heart of this work.
“We’re not just analysing data, we’re listening to young people and they want to be heard.”
A newly expanded research panel of young people will play a central role in the project, helping to shape the research design and provide insight into the findings.
While the study is still in its early stages, Dr Marchant hopes the findings will lead to improvements in how mental health services are delivered, particularly through schools and social care.
She added: “This fellowship is just the starting point. We want to build an evidence base that can inform long-term change for young people, whether that’s in schools, social care or digital spaces.”
“Our ultimate goal is to influence policy and make lasting change for vulnerable youth in Wales and beyond.”
