Current Research
The research at SBRL takes many different forms. We conduct naturalistic studies in real-world settings as well as experimental studies in the laboratory. Employing both approaches (and utilising quantitative and qualitative methods), we investigate the relationship between psychological/social/clinical factors and suicidal behaviour. Such factors include personality, cognitive and psychophysiological correlates of suicide risk. We are also interested in the development of theory-informed psychosocial interventions and their implementation in real-world settings.
A selection of our research is outlined below:
Naturalistic Studies
Scottish wellbeing study
Psychological factors in self-harm
Social Comparisons, perception of social rank and suicide risk
Compassion and suicide risk
Impact of patient suicide on practicioners
Investigating adolescent risk factors for suicide and self-harm
Investigating how parents cope following the loss of a child
Assessing whether social cognition models predict self-harm
Developing & evaluating the Paediatric Anxiety and Depression Index
Understanding what suicide notes tell us about the suicidal mind
Investigating public attitudes to mental health and mental wellbeing
Understanding the relationship between perfectionism and health
Investigating the relationship between intimate partner violence and suicide risk
Investigating the relationship between attachment, parental style and suicidal ideation
Impulsivity, decision-making & suicide risk
Multimorbidity and suicidal behaviour
Experimental Studies
Facial expressions of emotion and suicide risk
Facebook and social media use and suicide risk
Self-compassion, autobiographical memory and self-harm
Behavioural (implicit) markers of suicide risk
The relationship between social stress & pain sensitivity
The relationship between defeat & pain sensitivity
The relationship between stress reactivity and suicide risk
Problem-solving and suicide risk
Psychophysiology and self-harm
Evaluating the relationship between health behaviours and wellbeing
Qualitative Studies
Investigating the relationship between parental attachment and suicidal attempts
Interventions
Testing the utility of safety planning interventions such as Safetel
Evaluating suicide prevention programmes
Testing the utility of a volitional helpsheet to reduce self-harm
Assessing risk assessment measures within an NHS Trust