A pilot study of a novel digital intervention targeting self-harm in young people
Self-harm behaviour affects approximately 20% of young people aged 16-25 in their lifetime. Self-harm is often a response to struggling with difficult feelings, thoughts and situations. Current treatments for self-harm are long, expensive, and do not suit all young people, so we need to develop new interventions that can act faster and are more accessible.
IMAGINATOR is a novel imagery-based intervention designed for young people aged 12-25 who engage in self-harm. This blended digital intervention combines therapist-led contact with a smartphone app, the IMAGINATOR app, co-produced with young people with lived experience of self-harm. Therapist sessions are based on Functional Imagery Training, a technique that helps individuals use mental imagery of adaptive goals to resist self-harm urges and engage in an alternative behaviour in moments of distress. You can find a description of our first IMAGINATOR pilot here and here.
Our pilot study tested the feasibility, acceptability and safety of IMAGINATOR 2.0 intervention with our new smartphone app in young people aged 12-25 under Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and community adult mental health services in the West London NHS Trust.
You can find a summary of our results here and the IMAGINATOR study protocol here.
Read the IMAGINATOR newsletter describing the study.
Screenshots of the IMAGINATOR app:
Getting involved:
If you have questions, need more information, or would like to express your interest, we encourage you to contact the study team at imagine@imperial.ac.uk and follow our Instagram page @mir_imperial
Your participation could make a difference!