Home About Adam Chen

InSITE is a three-part PhD project.

The aim of the project is to investigate the broader social, political, environmental and economical factors that influence self-harm and suicidal thoughts and behaviours among young people (aged 16-25) in England.

It has three broad objectives:

  1. To explore which, and how, policies in England address social determinants of self-harm, and suicidal thoughts and behaviours among young people
  2. To investigate how individual risk factors interact with a range of social determinants to confer vulnerability for, or protect against, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts and behaviours in young people.
  3. To explore young people’s views and experiences of how different social determinants manifest on an individual level and impact their lived experiences.

The project will consist of three distinct but interlinked studies that examine different aspects related to the social determinants of youth suicide. It will involve a mixture of primary and secondary data through a sequential design.

The project will be guided by youth advisors, their input will set the priorities of the research.

Study One

A Rapid Realist Policy Review of the Impact of Social Determinants on Self-harm and Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviours in England

Read more

Study Two

Investigating the Interaction Between Social Determinants and Individual Risk Factors to Influence Suicidal Thoughts, Behaviour, and Self-harm in Young People

Study Two - TBC

Study Three

Exploring Young People’s Perspectives on How Social Determinants Shape Their Individual Experiences and Influence Suicidal Experiences.

Study Three - TBC

About the researchers

Adam Chen is an ESRC-funded PhD Student at the University of Birmingham and the principal investigator for InSITE. He holds an MA in Social Research and a BA (Hons) in Sociology with Criminology from the University of Sheffield. His previous experience includes volunteering with Sheffield Nightline, where he provided mental health support to students across Sheffield.

Dr Maria Michail is an Associate Professor at the University of Birmingham and is the primary supervisor of the project.

Dr Nicola Wright and Dr Isabel Morales-Muñoz co-supervise the project. Dr Nicola Wright is an Associate Professor in Mental Health at the University of Nottingham. Dr Isabel Morales-Muñoz is an Assistant Professor in Psychology at the University of Birmingham.

Contact us: a.chen@pgr.bham.ac.uk