Participant Information Sheet
Research Ethics Committee Reference Number: 24/PSY/037
Title of Project: The Big Question: Understanding why suicide is prevalent in Cumberland
You are being invited to take part in a research project. You do not have to take part if you do not want to. Before you decide, it is important for you to understand why the project is being done and what it will involve. Please take time to read the following information carefully and discuss it with others if you wish. Ask us if there is anything that is not clear or if you would like more information. Press 'start' at the bottom of the page to begin, when you are ready.
1. What is the purpose of the project?
In Cumbria between January 2020 and December 2023, 303 people have died by suspected suicide and, of those deaths, 56% were in Cumberland. Every one of those deaths is a tragedy. They are also a shocking reminder that we must continue to improve suicide prevention action, not only to improve the support for those who have lost a loved one to suicide, but also make support more available and accessible to those who have suicidal thoughts. This project hopes to understand why suicide rates in Cumberland are significantly higher than the national average, and to identify strategies that the Local Authority could put in place to help to reduce the suicide rate.
2. Why have I been invited to participate?
You have been identified as a potential participant because you responded to a recruitment email/poster/advert. Please do not participate if you do not live in Cumberland or are aged under 18.
3. Do I have to take part?
No. You can ask questions about the project before deciding whether to take part. If you do not want to take part that is OK. Submitting the questionnaire implies your consent to participate in this project.
You can stop being part of the project at any time, without giving a reason. You may withdraw from the project by pressing the ‘Exit’ button/closing the browser. Once you submit your survey responses, data already collected will be retained and used because we cannot trace this information back to you.
4. What will happen to me if I take part?
You will be asked to complete a short online survey. The survey will take about 15 minutes or longer to fill out, depending on how much you want to tell us. The survey asks you for some demographic information, followed by some questions exploring your knowledge of and attitudes towards suicide. There will also be some open-text questions, where you can share your personal experiences and perspectives, if you wish. The topic might be considered sensitive because it focuses on suicide. With this in mind, please consider your privacy when completing the questionnaire so that nobody can oversee your answers. If you feel that you will find questions on this topic upsetting or distressing, we advise that you do not take part.
Once you have summitted the questionnaire you will be automatically directed to a separate questionnaire which will ask you to provide your contact details if you are interested in being interviewed (either one-to-one or in a focus group) about the project topic, or if you would like to access further training. If you do not wish to provide your contact details, you can contact the investigator directly. More information about the interviews/focus groups will be provided in a separate participant information sheet. Your email address will not be linked to your survey responses.
5. Are there any possible disadvantages or risks in taking part?
Questions included in this project focus on suicide. If you feel worried or in low mood, we would like to point out that there are several sources of advice or help which are free and readily available to you and which may provide useful; these are available on our
website and at the end of the survey.
6. Are there any benefits in taking part?
There will be no direct or personal benefit for those people participating in the project. It is hoped that this project will lead to better suicide prevention initiatives in the region.
7. What information will be collected and what will happen to information/data provided?
The information you provide as part of the project is the project data. Any project data from which you can be identified (e.g. from identifiers such as your name, date of birth, audio recording etc.), is known as personal data. Your participation in this project will involve the collection/use of personal data. The project data collected/used will include more sensitive categories of personal data (special category personal data) such as your race and ethnic origin, although you will not be identifiable from the data collected. We will keep all information about you safe and secure.
At the end of the survey, you will be offered the opportunity to provide your email address, if you would like to take part in a follow-up interview or focus group, or be provided with further information about training in the area. We will therefore hold personal data about you (contact details). With your agreement, we would like to store your contact details so that you may be contacted about the interviews/focus groups. This data will be stored separately from your survey data. People who do not need to know who you are will not see your contact details. If we do not hear back from you, we will delete your contact details. If you are interested in further training opportunities, your contact details will be passed on to Cumberland Council. All other project data will be stored securely at LJMU for three years after the duration of the project.
8. Will the project be published? Could I be identified from any publications or other outputs?
The findings from the project will be written up in e.g., a report, journal articles, and for conference presentations. We will write our reports in a way that no-one can work out that you took part in the project.
9. Who is organising and who is funding/commissioning the project?
This project is organised by Liverpool John Moores University, who have been commissioned to undertake the work by Cumberland Council, in order to understand what more can be done in the region to reduce the suicide rate.
10. Payments, reimbursements of expenses or any other benefit or incentive for taking part
At the end of the survey, you will have the option to provide your contact details in order to opt-in to a prize draw to win one of three £50 shopping vouchers. The lottery will be drawn once data collection is complete (expected to be February 2025) and the winner[s] notified using the contact details provided.
Once you have submitted your survey responses, you will be automatically directed to a separate questionnaire that will ask you to include your contact details. Your contact details will be stored separately from your survey responses and we will not be able to link your survey responses to your contact details.
11. Whom do I contact if I have a concern about the project or I wish to complain?
If you have a concern about any aspect of this project, please contact Dr Emma Ashworth, and we will do our best to answer your query. You should expect a reply within 10 working days. If you remain unhappy or wish to make a formal complaint, please contact the Chair of the Research Ethics Committee at Liverpool John Moores University who will seek to resolve the matter as soon as possible:
Chair, Liverpool John Moores University Research Ethics Committee; Email:
FullReviewUREC@ljmu.ac.uk; Tel: 0151 231 2121; Research Innovation Services, Liverpool John Moores University, Exchange Station, Liverpool L2 2QP.
12. Data Protection
Liverpool John Moores University is the data controller with respect to your personal data and as such will determine how your personal data is used in the project. The University will process your personal data for the purpose of the project outlined above. Research/evaluation is a task that is performed in the public interest. You can find out more about how we use your information:
The online platform may collect personal data (e.g. via the IP address, backups of project data). This makes them a data controller with respect to personal data and, as such, will determine how personal data is used. Please see their privacy notice here:
https://www.questionpro.com/help/privacy-policy.html.
13. Payments, reimbursements of expenses or any other benefit or incentive for taking part
There will be no payment or any benefit or incentive for taking part in this project
14. Contact details
Principal Investigator: Dr Emma Ashworth
Member of LJMU staff
LJMU Email address: E.L.Ashworth@ljmu.ac.uk
LJMU School/faculty: School of Psychology, Faculty of Health