Thank you for your interest in taking part in Samaritans' research interviews about self-harm.
Before we go ahead with the next stage, this information sheet gives you details about the study, what the interview will be like, and how the study findings will be used. It also provides details of the support you will be offered if you decide to take part in an interview.
Take time to read the information sheet carefully. Talk to others about the study, if you wish. Please ask us if there is anything that is not clear or if you would like more information. Take time to decide whether or not you would like to be interviewed.
What is this research about?
The aim of this study is to better understand the experiences of people who self-harm and the support you may have tried to access relating to self-harm. We want to understand whether there are things that can be done that would better support people who self-harm.
If I decide to take part in an interview, what will happen next?
You will be contacted by a researcher working for Samaritans. They will ask you to confirm that you still want to go ahead and take part in the study. If you do want to continue an interview will be arranged. You can do the interview face-to-face in private at a Samaritans branch or on the telephone and it will be arranged at a convenient time for you.
Do I have to take part?
No. Participation in this research is completely voluntary. Even if you do decide to take part, you can change your mind and withdraw any time before the interview by texting, emailing or calling the researcher with a unique participant number you will be given when you agree to take part in an interview. For example, you can email or text “Withdraw from study [NUMBER]”. This means you do not have to give any explanation for your withdrawal. After the interview has taken place, participants will still be able to withdraw their contribution from the research using the same method until the 5th February 2020, when our analysis of the interviews begins. If you do withdraw from the research, there will be no negative consequences; your use of Samaritans’ services will not be affected; any information that you have already provided will be destroyed; and you will not be contacted again in connection with this study.
What will the interview be like?
Interviews will last a maximum of 90 minutes, including breaks, and take place in a private room at a Samaritans branch or over the telephone. If you give permission, interviews will be audio recorded on a password protected dictaphone.
At the start of the interview, the researcher will answer any questions you have about the study and check that you are happy to continue. If you are happy, you will be asked to give your consent for the interview to start.
If the interview is face-to-face, you will be asked to sign a consent form. If the interview is over the telephone you will be asked to give verbal consent before the interview starts and then asked to confirm your consent when recording begins. Once you have given your consent you will be asked about your experiences of accessing support for non-suicidal self-harm. We’ll ask you about the support you received after a recent experience of self-harm. If you took part in our recent survey we’ll be building on your response there. In the second part we’ll ask you about your life and your access to support for self-harm across a longer period of time. We’ll be focusing on your experience of support for self-harm, so you won’t need to go into detail about your history of self-harm.
Will I be identified or identifiable if I take part?
No. You will not be identified or identifiable in any results, report, publication or case studies that come from this research. We will not use your name or identify you when we write about the study (for example, will we use quotes in a report, or write up individual stories with no names, or make up composite stories from all the information provided so that individuals can’t recognise themselves). We will not report anything that you have said unless you say something that indicates that you or others are at significant risk of harm. In this instance, we may feel we have a duty of care to talk to Samaritans internal staff and seek advice, but we would not do so without discussing this with you first. All the information you give us will be stored securely by Samaritans and only accessed by the research team – it will not be shared with anyone else. Within six months of the end of the study all the information relating to you and everyone else in the study will be destroyed.
What are the possible risks of taking part?
Previous research suggests that the majority of people who take part in a study such as this do not experience any adverse psychological reaction as a result of their participation. Nevertheless, it is possible that you may find that the research interview causes a temporary increase in feelings of distress. The researcher who will contact you has been trained to look out for any signs that you are in discomfort because of the questions you have been asked. If necessary, the researcher will offer you the chance to stop the interview and/or talk to a Samaritans volunteer for support. If the researcher has concerns that you may be an immediate risk to yourself or others, then they can breach confidentiality to access the necessary help and support.
Are there any possible benefits?
We hope that you will find participating in this study interesting and that you may feel positive about contributing to a project that aims to raise awareness of these issues. We’re providing participants with £15 as a token of our appreciation for taking part and to help cover any expenses such as travel costs.
What support will I get if I do take part?
All interviewees will be offered post-interview support from a Samaritans Listening volunteer. You do not have to accept this offer. If you use Samaritans’ services, you can use them when needed as before. You will also be provided with a list of appropriate support available from other organisations before and after the interview.
What will happen to the research findings?
An external agency will transcribe (type up) the audio recording via a secure and encrypted online portal. All the information you give us will be stored securely by Samaritans and kept strictly confidential to the research team. Once we have completed our study, we will write a report for use by Samaritans, produce a summary report for participants, write blogs and other publications and produce a series of anonymised case studies from the interview data. You will be not be identifiable in this report or case studies. The case studies will be used to influence policy and practice in this area.
Who is organising and funding this study?
The study is organised by the research team based at Samaritans, and the lead researcher on the project is Mette Isaksen. This project is funded by Samaritans.
What if I want to complain?
If you have any concerns about any aspect of the way you have been approached or treated during the course of this study, you should contact:
Liz Scowcroft, Head of Research and Evaluation, Samaritans.
Telephone: 020 8394 8330
Email: e.scowcroft@samaritans.org
Who do I contact if I have any questions about my involvement or would like to withdraw from the research?
Contact the lead researcher directly:
Mette Isaksen, Senior Research and Evidence Manager, Samaritans.
Telephone: 07483028714
Email: research@samaritans.org