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 and .
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 Sesrvices (CAMHS) and community adult mental health services in the West London NHS Trust.
You can find some of our results here and the .
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
Your participation could make a difference!