The availability and effectiveness of psychosocial treatments for underserved young people who self-harm

Nearly 10% of young people in England harm themselves, yet mental health services have little idea which talking therapies actually reach those from underserved backgrounds or whether those therapies work. This matters because self-harm rates are high, but the young people most likely to be missed by services—those from ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ communities, or deprived areas—are also the least studied. The project will map what psychological supports are currently available for these groups within NHS mental health services, and then test how effective those supports are. Without this knowledge, services may continue offering therapies that fail to engage or help the young people who need them most. If the research succeeds, it could reshape how mental health services commission and deliver talking therapies. Commissioners would have concrete evidence on which treatments work for which underserved groups, allowing them to target resources more effectively. The impact would be felt in clinic waiting rooms, school counselling offices, and online support platforms—wherever young people from marginalised backgrounds seek help. This is applied health services research with a direct practical aim: to make existing psychological treatments actually work for the young people currently falling through the cracks.