Study information
This research project will evaluate how acceptable and feasible an adapted version of a well-established suicide prevention strategy (Safety Plans) are for use with autistic adults with a history of self-harm, suicidal thoughts or suicidal behaviours.
This research project will evaluate how acceptable and feasible an adapted version of a well-established suicide prevention strategy (Safety Plans) are for use with autistic adults with a history of self-harm, suicidal thoughts or suicidal behaviours.
This research project will be in three stages.
This research project will be in three stages.
Firstly we will consult with autistic adults, family members of autistic people and professionals working with autistic people about our adapted safety plans and other aspects of the research plan to ensure that they are fit for purpose. We also work with local authorities and mental health and autism charities and support groups to train staff in how to introduce the adapted safety plans to autistic adults who have experienced suicidal thoughts and behaviours.
Firstly we will consult with autistic adults, family members of autistic people and professionals working with autistic people about our adapted safety plans and other aspects of the research plan to ensure that they are fit for purpose. We also work with local authorities and mental health and autism charities and support groups to train staff in how to introduce the adapted safety plans to autistic adults who have experienced suicidal thoughts and behaviours.
Next we will recruit 10 autistic adults from this group and ask them to use the plans and complete a number of questionnaires about their thoughts, feeling and behaviours. We will ask for their feedback on all of these procedures, as well as feedback from their support workers. In the final stage of the project we will recruit 70 autistic adults who have experienced suicidal thoughts and feelings from these same services. These participants will be allocated by a computer to either use our adapted safety plans or receive their usual care package.
Next we will recruit 10 autistic adults from this group and ask them to use the plans and complete a number of questionnaires about their thoughts, feeling and behaviours. We will ask for their feedback on all of these procedures, as well as feedback from their support workers. In the final stage of the project we will recruit 70 autistic adults who have experienced suicidal thoughts and feelings from these same services. These participants will be allocated by a computer to either use our adapted safety plans or receive their usual care package.
We will follow up these participants one month and six months and ask them to complete a range of measures to tell us about their thoughts feelings and behaviours during this time. We will also ask the adults who received the adapted safety plans and their support workers whether they used the plan and what they thought about it.
We will follow up these participants one month and six months and ask them to complete a range of measures to tell us about their thoughts feelings and behaviours during this time. We will also ask the adults who received the adapted safety plans and their support workers whether they used the plan and what they thought about it.
At the end of the study we will have useful information about whether the adapted safety plans are acceptable and usable by autistic adults, whether the questionnaires and interviews we have chosen are appropriate. We will also have information about how many autistic adults we need to help us in a future study to find out whether the adapted safety plans are effective in reducing self-harm and suicidal thoughts and behaviours in autistic people.
At the end of the study we will have useful information about whether the adapted safety plans are acceptable and usable by autistic adults, whether the questionnaires and interviews we have chosen are appropriate. We will also have information about how many autistic adults we need to help us in a future study to find out whether the adapted safety plans are effective in reducing self-harm and suicidal thoughts and behaviours in autistic people.
Throughout the study we will engage the advice and support of autistic people as co-investigators, and researchers and members of our steering committee and advisory panel.
Throughout the study we will engage the advice and support of autistic people as co-investigators, and researchers and members of our steering committee and advisory panel.