Our Research

Te Ata Hāpara showcases translational research.  We are committed to He Awa Whiria (braided rivers) bi-cultural approach where co-design and co-creation with communities and academics with lived experience of suicidal distress is central.  We have significant experience in clinical and public health approaches to prevention, for example implementation of best practice guidelines for management of self-harm in schools, suicide risk assessment in public mental health services and co-design of a parent resource for whānau taking care of a young person who engages in self-harm.  Our work has policy and practice impact, for example, the inclusion of our Cochrane systematic reviews in NICE practice guidelines for depression and self-harm.  

Our research spans universal, selected and indicated interventions for suicide and self-harm prevention. We have expertise in:  

• Kaupapa Māori research    

• Whānau perspectives on self-harm and suicide  

• Co-design methodology   

• Epidemiology of self-harm and suicide including sentinel surveillance   

• Clinical trials of psychological interventions Evidence synthesis of quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods  

• Evaluation of services   

• National strategies and implementation   

• Media as a preventative tool   

• Digital tools such as chatbots and apps  

• Supporting young people to use social media safely   

• Restricting access to certain methods of self-harm and suicide  

• Education and school -based interventions  

• Knowledge, attitudes and behaviour of those working in suicide prevention.    

Examples our work include implementation of best practice guidelines for management of self-harm in schools, suicide risk assessment in public mental health services and co-design of a parent resource for whānau taking care of a young person who engages in self-harm.  Our work has policy and practice impact, for example, the inclusion of our Cochrane systematic reviews in NICE practice guidelines for depression and self-harm.