Behind the data: Reflections from conducting school-based suicide prevention research with young people in the United Kingdom

TL;DR

This paper discusses the challenges of conducting suicide prevention research in UK schools and offers practical recommendations for researchers.

Contribution

The paper provides new insights and recommendations for conducting suicide prevention research in complex school settings.

Findings

Schools are complex settings with logistical and engagement challenges for suicide prevention research.

Feasibility trials reveal barriers to researching suicide and self-harm prevention among young people.

Recommendations are offered to improve research engagement and implementation in schools.

Abstract

Suicide is the leading cause of death among children and young people under 35 in the United Kingdom (UK), and suicide rates in this group are rising. Schools are considered an appropriate and logical setting for suicide prevention activities, with universal access to a wide range of young people. However, schools are complex settings, meaning research projects often encounter a number of logistical, engagement, and implementation challenges. This commentary presents learnings from a regionally based feasibility trial of an integrated response to suicide risk among UK secondary schools. We explore the barriers and challenges to engaging and conducting research on suicide and self-harm prevention with young people and offer recommendations for researchers.

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