TY - JOUR

T1 - A qualitative study exploring participants experiences of the Mental Imagery for Suicidality in Students Trial

AU - Duxbury, Paula

AU - Taylor, Peter James

AU - Palmier‐Claus, Jasper

AU - Boardman, Bradley

AU - Pratt, Daniel

AU - Parker, Sophie

AU - Lobban, Fiona

PY - 2024/12/31

Y1 - 2024/12/31

N2 - Objectives: Higher education students experience elevated levels of suicidal ideation, but often face barriers in accessing support. The Mental Imagery for Suicidality in Students Trial (MISST; ISRCTN13621293; NCT05296538) tested the feasibility and acceptability of a six‐session imagery‐based approach called Broad‐Minded Affective Coping (BMAC). This qualitative evaluation explored the experiences of MISST participants and staff. Design: A qualitative study using one‐to‐one qualitative interviews with participants and staff recruited from MISST. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to explore trial participant and staff experiences to inform a future definitive trial. Methods: Student participants (n = 16), research assistants (n = 4) and the trial therapist (n = 1) were interviewed and transcripts analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Four key themes were identified. The first theme highlights the value and challenges for students in talking about suicide. The ways in which communication and rapport can be built to facilitate this conversation are explored in theme 2. Theme 3 explains how working with the BMAC therapist increased participants’ awareness of their current mood, drew their attention to positive moments in their lives and helped them to actively recall these moments to interrupt negative cycles of rumination and suicidal ideation. The extent to which the BMAC is ‘fit for purpose’ is outlined in theme 4, generating specific recommendations for future intervention development. Conclusions: The BMAC offers a positive, time‐limited, structured intervention that is well suited to meet the needs of higher education students experiencing suicidal ideation. Further research is needed to test the effectiveness on mental health and suicide‐related outcomes.

AB - Objectives: Higher education students experience elevated levels of suicidal ideation, but often face barriers in accessing support. The Mental Imagery for Suicidality in Students Trial (MISST; ISRCTN13621293; NCT05296538) tested the feasibility and acceptability of a six‐session imagery‐based approach called Broad‐Minded Affective Coping (BMAC). This qualitative evaluation explored the experiences of MISST participants and staff. Design: A qualitative study using one‐to‐one qualitative interviews with participants and staff recruited from MISST. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to explore trial participant and staff experiences to inform a future definitive trial. Methods: Student participants (n = 16), research assistants (n = 4) and the trial therapist (n = 1) were interviewed and transcripts analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Four key themes were identified. The first theme highlights the value and challenges for students in talking about suicide. The ways in which communication and rapport can be built to facilitate this conversation are explored in theme 2. Theme 3 explains how working with the BMAC therapist increased participants’ awareness of their current mood, drew their attention to positive moments in their lives and helped them to actively recall these moments to interrupt negative cycles of rumination and suicidal ideation. The extent to which the BMAC is ‘fit for purpose’ is outlined in theme 4, generating specific recommendations for future intervention development. Conclusions: The BMAC offers a positive, time‐limited, structured intervention that is well suited to meet the needs of higher education students experiencing suicidal ideation. Further research is needed to test the effectiveness on mental health and suicide‐related outcomes.

KW - suicide

KW - qualitative

KW - interviews

KW - risk

KW - trial

U2 - 10.1111/papt.12547

DO - 10.1111/papt.12547

M3 - Journal article

VL - 97

SP - 645

EP - 664

JO - Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice

JF - Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice

SN - 1476-0835

IS - 4

ER -