Project Overview
SAMAGH is an advanced training program designed to improve the assessment, management, and support of high-risk self-harm patients.
Our new SAMAGH information video is below.
The program consists of two parts: an E-Learning program and a one-day face-to-face simulation training course facilitated by experienced clinicians. Developed by Prof. Ella Arensman and an interdisciplinary team, SAMAGH was funded by the HRB and HSE’s National Office for Suicide Prevention.
The program focuses on improving the assessment and management of individuals engaging in frequent self-harm repetition.
The SAMAGH training is of relevance to many types of healthcare professionals and has, so far, been delievered to Clinical Nurse Specialists, Non Consultant Hospital Doctors, Psychiatry Registrars and GPs.
The most recent training took place in June 2024 in the ASSERTCentre, UCC for doctors/NCHDs.
Project Aims
The SAMAGH evaluation study will address specific aims:
- Assess the impact of the SAMAGH training for mental health professionals in hospital settings on overall repeated self-harm rates as well as in the two subgroups of high-risk patients.
- Determine whether the SAMAGH training is associated with increased mental health assessments being conducted with self-harm patients.
- Conduct a process evaluation to understand the feasibility of implementing the SAMAGH training and its effect on health professionals’ knowledge, attitudes and skills on assessment and management of self-harm patients.
Team Members Involved
Prof Ella Arensman, Almas Khan and Dr Aileen Callanan
Recent Publications
- Study protocol for the implementation and evaluation of the Self-harm Assessment and Management for General Hospitals programme in Ireland (SAMAGH). Arensman, E., Troya, M. I., Nicholson, S., Sadath, A., Cully, G., Costa, A. P. R., … & Cassidy, E. (2020). BMC health services research, 20(1), 1-8.
