Stakeholder perspectives on self-harm and interpersonal violence (IPV) registries in secondary care: Challenges and opportunities
1
Bangor University, Bangor, United Kingdom
2
University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A3828
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Self-harm is a major cause of morbidity and the strongest predictor of suicide globally. Many of the social and structural factors associated with self-harm (e.g. trauma, coercive control, substance use, and socioeconomic disadvantage) also underpin experiences of interpersonal violence (IPV). Population-level registries can provide longitudinal insights to inform prevention strategies, identify emerging trends, and evaluate the impact of interventions. However, the development of registries addressing sensitive and intersecting harms presents ethical, conceptual, and practical challenges. This study aimed to explore stakeholders’ perspectives on the establishment and operation of a self-harm and IPV registry.
METHODS:
26 online semi-structured interviews were conducted with a diverse range of stakeholders, including healthcare professionals, researchers, policymakers, commissioners, third-sector organisations, and data governance specialists. Interviews explored views on the purpose, scope, feasibility, and ethical considerations of a combined self-harm and IPV registry. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.
RESULTS:
Preliminary analysis indicates substantial variation across stakeholder groups in interpretations of key concepts, including definitions of self-harm and IPV, perceived overlaps between them, and assumptions about causality and temporality. Stakeholders also differed in their views on what data should be collected, at what level of granularity, and for whose benefit. Despite these differences, there was broad agreement on significant challenges to collecting, sharing, and using meaningful data. These challenges spanned individual-level concerns (e.g. acceptability and safety of asking about IPV), organisational-level issues (e.g. data ownership, interoperability, and governance), and policy-level constraints (e.g. funding, accountability, and sustainability).
CONCLUSIONS:
These preliminary findings highlight the need for targeted engagement and capacity-building work to raise awareness of the drivers of, and links between, self-harm and IPV. Developing a shared understanding and vision among stakeholders is likely to be critical to the ethical, acceptable, and effective implementation of a registry in this complex and sensitive area.
Self-harm is a major cause of morbidity and the strongest predictor of suicide globally. Many of the social and structural factors associated with self-harm (e.g. trauma, coercive control, substance use, and socioeconomic disadvantage) also underpin experiences of interpersonal violence (IPV). Population-level registries can provide longitudinal insights to inform prevention strategies, identify emerging trends, and evaluate the impact of interventions. However, the development of registries addressing sensitive and intersecting harms presents ethical, conceptual, and practical challenges. This study aimed to explore stakeholders’ perspectives on the establishment and operation of a self-harm and IPV registry.
METHODS:
26 online semi-structured interviews were conducted with a diverse range of stakeholders, including healthcare professionals, researchers, policymakers, commissioners, third-sector organisations, and data governance specialists. Interviews explored views on the purpose, scope, feasibility, and ethical considerations of a combined self-harm and IPV registry. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.
RESULTS:
Preliminary analysis indicates substantial variation across stakeholder groups in interpretations of key concepts, including definitions of self-harm and IPV, perceived overlaps between them, and assumptions about causality and temporality. Stakeholders also differed in their views on what data should be collected, at what level of granularity, and for whose benefit. Despite these differences, there was broad agreement on significant challenges to collecting, sharing, and using meaningful data. These challenges spanned individual-level concerns (e.g. acceptability and safety of asking about IPV), organisational-level issues (e.g. data ownership, interoperability, and governance), and policy-level constraints (e.g. funding, accountability, and sustainability).
CONCLUSIONS:
These preliminary findings highlight the need for targeted engagement and capacity-building work to raise awareness of the drivers of, and links between, self-harm and IPV. Developing a shared understanding and vision among stakeholders is likely to be critical to the ethical, acceptable, and effective implementation of a registry in this complex and sensitive area.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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