DIVERT

Co-producing a distress tolerance intervention to reduce self-harm episodes in young people

What is this study about?
The DIVERT study is focused on self-help toolkits for young people who have had difficulties with emotions or thoughts which has led them to hurt themselves. It’s being led by Dr Clare Fenton, a child psychiatrist at COMIC who works in and around York. For the study, we are holding some workshops on Saturday mornings at the York city centre library (dates are currently being confirmed). There is a young teenager workshop for 11-13 year olds and an older teen workshop for 14-18 year olds. We’re also holding another separate workshop each for parents/carers and professionals to share their thoughts about self-help toolkits and learn about them.

In the workshops for young people, you will learn more about self-help toolkits and get to make one if you have never made one before (we will give you all the resources including diaries, essential oil, fidget toys, slime etc etc!). As this is a study about the use of self-help toolkits there will be activities around what you think should or should not be in these toolkits (you don’t need to talk in a group, the activities are individual tasks). As a thank you for participating in the study and offering your opinion we will give each you a £20 love2shop shopping voucher. Parents do not need to attend but do need to consent for those under 16 years. There will be tea, coffee and cake for you and any parents who accompany you and any younger siblings. If you are interested please contact s.walker54@nhs.net.

What is this study about?
There will be five focus groups where participants can find out more about self-help toolkits and help the research team to understand them more:

Young people aged 11-13 years with historical or current experience of self-harm, without experience of using self-soothe boxes.
Young people aged 14-18 years with historical or current experience of self-harm, without experience of using self-soothe boxes.
Young people aged 14-18 years old with historical or current experience of self-harm and with experience of using self-soothe boxes for self-harm.
Parents/carers of young people who have experienced self-harm.
Mental health professionals with experience of working with young people who have experienced self-harm.

These will involve meeting in-person and doing activities designed to understand self-help toolkits more.

Who can take part?

All participants will:

Be able to give informed consent.
Be able to participate in the study in English.
Live or work in the Yorkshire and Humber, UK region
Be able to attend at least one workshop in person at the York City Centre Library.

Additionally, young people participants will:

Be aged 11-18 years.
Have experience of current or historical self-harm.
NOT pose a risk to others, such as a history of aggression, or have a recent history (within 6 months) of significant risk to themselves.
NOT currently require inpatient CAMHS or be subject to the Mental Health Act (1983).

Parent/carer participants will:

Have experience of their child/young person experiencing self-harm.

Professional participants will:

Have experience of working with children or young people with experience of self-harm.

How can people get involved?
Anyone interested in getting involved in the study can contact either Lauren Stanton (lauren.stanton2@nhs.net; 07980956677) or Ellen Kingsley (e.kingsley@nhs.net; 07870992859) to find out more about the study and for us to check eligibility to participate.