Self-harm

A new tool to improve support for Autistic people who self-harm

Led by Dr Victoria Newell at the University of Nottingham

Self-harm is the strongest predictor of future suicide. While many people are affected, autistic people are three times more likely to self-harm than non-autistic people. However, clinicians and researchers currently lack the right tools to understand and help. Existing self-harm assessment tools were not designed for autistic people and can be confusing or miss experiences unique to autism, such as self-injury during sensory overload, or a meltdown.

To address this, Dr Victoria Newell from the University of Nottingham has worked with autistic adults to co-develop a new tool: the Self-harm Questionnaire – Autism (SHQ-A). While early studies suggest it is clear, relevant, and acceptable, Victoria’s Foundation funding will allow her to further test and improve the SHQ-A so it can be used in practice.

Working in partnership with the autistic community, Victoria and her team will first interview autistic people across different age groups to ensure the tool reflects experiences across the lifespan. The researchers will then carry out a large international survey in the UK, US, and Australia to test how well the tool works. Finally, they will pilot the SHQ-A with Harmless CIC, a self-harm and suicide support service, and co-develop a free user toolkit.

Ultimately, this research will improve how we identify, understand, and support autistic people who self-harm.