A Web-Based Training Program for School Staff to Respond to Self-Harm: Design and Development of the Supportive...

Area of Science:

• Adolescent mental health
• Public health interventions
• Educational psychology

Background:

• Self-harm is a significant public health issue among adolescents.
• School staff are often the first to identify and support students who self-harm.
• Existing training for school staff on self-harm is limited, impacting their confidence and preparedness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To coproduce an evidence-based, web-based training program for school staff.
• To enhance staff skills and confidence in responding to adolescent self-harm.
• To develop the Supportive Response to Self-Harm (SORTS) prototype through stakeholder collaboration.

Main Methods:

• User-centered design and person-based approaches were employed.
• Literature reviews, expert consultations, and focus groups with young people and school staff informed development.
• Thematic analysis using the framework method was applied to qualitative data.

Main Results:

• A draft training program, wireframe, and UI designs were produced through coproduction.
• Key themes identified include the need for training, acceptability, practicality, and design preferences.
• Stakeholder feedback confirmed the need for and utility of the proposed web-based program.

Conclusions:

• The SORTS program is an evidence-based, coproduced web-based training for school staff on adolescent self-harm.
• It aims to equip staff with skills to support students and promote whole-school approaches.
• Further research is needed to refine and evaluate the program's effectiveness for wider implementation.