Study One

Self-harm and suicidal thoughts and behaviours (STB) are influenced by a range of social factors, including economic policies, healthcare access, and cultural values. These factors, known as the social determinants of health, shape individuals’ lives and can either increase or reduce their risk of suicide. While previous research has explored the relationship between social determinants and suicide, there is limited understanding of how UK policies address these influences in preventing self-harm and STB.

This study proposes a Rapid Realist Policy Review to explore how policies in England address the impact of social determinants of self-harm and STB. A realist approach helps answer key questions: What policies exist? How do they work? For whom do they work? Under what circumstances? By identifying the wider societal factors (context), how individuals respond to policies (mechanisms), and the actual effects (outcomes), this synthesis aims to provide deeper insights into policy effectiveness. This research will focus on the general population and young people specifically to understand how policies specifically influence self-harm and STB. The study will engage stakeholders, including policy experts and youth advisors, to ensure real-world relevance.

This is the first Rapid Realist Review examining policies and how they address the impact of social determinants of self-harm and STB. The results will contribute to a better understanding of how policies impact social determinants and thus suicide prevention in England.