The Public Health Research (PHR) Programme would like to draw researchers’ attention to the commissioning brief below, which was last advertised in Summer 2023. This is a brief that we have previously advertised as a commissioned funding opportunity. We are still interested in receiving applications in this research area, as it remains a priority in our portfolio. However, please note that the commissioning brief, along with the underpinning literature searches, has not been updated since originally written.
Research question(s)
- Which interventions, aimed at people at high risk of suicide or suicide attempts, are effective in reducing the rate of suicide and suicide attempts?
In England and Wales there are approximately 5,500 registered deaths by suicide each year. It is estimated that 10-25 times that number attempt suicide. Factors associated with an increased risk of suicide include drug and alcohol misuse, history of trauma or abuse, self-harm, financial insecurity, poverty, poor social conditions, contact with the criminal justice system, social isolation and loneliness, relationship breakdown and bereavement by suicide. Evidence also suggests that there is a significant association between socioeconomic disadvantage and suicidal behaviour.
In the UK, the highest rate of suicide is among men aged 44-54. Other high-risk groups include: people who have previously attempted suicide, young and new mothers, people working in certain occupations, people in contact with the criminal justice system, LGBTQ+ people, teens and young adults, and people from some cultural and ethnic groups. Risk of suicide attempt, suicidal ideation and self-harm is high among young people, and suicide is the leading cause of death in the UK among people aged 20-34. There is also an increased risk of suicide attempt in adults aged 65 years and over.
The Public Health Research (PHR) Programme wishes to commission research on which interventions aimed at groups at high risk of suicide and suicide attempts are effective in contributing to the reduction of suicide attempts and suicide. The PHR Programme is predominantly interested in the evaluation of interventions operating at a population level rather than at an individual level and which should address health inequalities and the wider determinants of health. The PHR Programme recognises that interventions are likely to impact different (sub)populations in different ways, and encourages researchers to explore such inequalities of impact in their study design.
Please note that this call is not aimed at non-suicidal self-harm. Interventions should aim to influence the population level risk factors and determinants of suicide and suicide attempts. It should also be noted that the PHR is always interested in the impact of interventions on health inequalities.
Examples may include:
- Interventions to prevent suicide and/or suicide attempts in high-risk groups which may be defined by gender, age, ethnicity, occupation and/or other factor(s).
- Interventions to prevent suicide and/or suicide attempts by restricting access to the means of suicide.
- Evaluation of the effectiveness of suicide helplines.
- Interventions to increase levels of support to people in different forms of crisis which may put them at risk of suicide or suicidal ideation.
- Interventions to prevent suicide and/or suicide attempts by people in contact with the criminal justice system (a single setting or a range of custodial settings may be considered).
- Interventions aimed specifically at prevention of attempted and/or completed suicide in high-risk groups.
- Multiagency interventions aimed at preventing suicide and/or suicide attempts.
Of particular importance to the PHR Programme is an understanding of inequalities in impact of policy and access to services by people from ethnic minority backgrounds in the UK. Likewise. evaluations of interventions seeking to reduce health inequalities experienced by people from ethnic minority backgrounds are also of specific interest to the PHR Programme.
A range of study designs and outcome measures can be used. Researchers will need to clearly describe the population group targeted and the epidemiology of the suicide risk for that group, as well as justify the most suitable methodological approach. Alongside primary outcomes of interest such as completed suicide, attempted suicide or self-harm, researchers are also encouraged to consider broader outcome measures, which should be specified and justified. Researchers will also need to specify key outcomes and how these will be measured in the short, medium and long term. Understanding the value of public health interventions - whether the outcomes justify their use of resources - is integral to the PHR Programme, where resources relating to different economic sectors and budgets are potentially relevant. The main outcomes for economic evaluation are expected to include health (including health-related quality of life) and the impact on health inequalities as a minimum, with consideration of broader outcomes welcomed. Different approaches to economic evaluation are encouraged as long as they assess the value and distributive impact of interventions. Applications that do not include an economic component should provide appropriate justification.
Researchers are encouraged to ensure that service users or people with lived experience from the target audience are involved in the design and planning of the intervention and/or as costed members of the research team. Researchers should demonstrate the relevance of their proposed research to decision-makers and they might do this through involving them in the research team.
Researchers are encouraged to explain how they will share their findings with policy makers, public health officers, special interest groups, charities, community audiences and other relevant stakeholders. Researchers are expected to be aware of other studies in this area and ensure their proposed research is complementary.
For further information on submitting an application to the PHR Programme, please refer to the Stage 1 guidance notes and PHR supporting information. These can be found by clicking on the relevant commissioned call on the main funding opportunities page. This also includes closing dates and details about how to apply.