University of Westminster research, titled Effectiveness of Surveillance Technologies to Prevent Suicides at High-Risk Locations, led by Dr Jay-Marie Mackenzie, Reader at the Westminster School of Social Sciences, and co-lead by Professor Lisa Marzano from Middlesex University, was awarded £1,120,196 by the National Institute of Heath and Care Research (NIHR) as part of their Public Health Research programme.
The aim of this project is to investigate whether surveillance technology can effectively, and cost-effectively, reduce suicides and suicide attempts in public locations. The project is set to be completed by April 2026, and involves collaborations with a range of institutions including co-investigator Dr Philip Worrall, Lecturer at the Westminster School of Computer Science and Engineering, who will oversee the economic analysis workstream. Other collaborators include the University of Middlesex, University of Glasgow, Canterbury Christ Church University, and the Samaritans. As well as high profile knowledge exchange relationships with organisations such as Network Rail and local councils.
The research will examine the role technology could play in preventing suicides in public places where surveillance systems are deployed, for example CCTVs detecting the crossing of danger boundaries. It will explore whether suicide surveillance technologies work in the way they are supposed to, their financial viability, and the acceptability and ethics of some controversial technologies, such as those that could track people's movements. The purpose of the study is to find out what technology is currently being used, how effective it is in preventing suicides, and possible barriers to effectiveness.
To best understand the observed environments, a case study approach will be implemented to enable site comparisons and learning. The researchers will focus on different high-risk public spaces to investigate if the use of surveillance technology at these locations reduces suicides, and if interventions increase or decrease them. A central part of the evaluation will be the voices of a range of stakeholders, such as public health, emergency responders, and people with lived experience of suicide. The research will also explore conversations in online forums about the locations, and how the technology is perceived.
Once the project is finalised, the researchers intend to create a set of guidelines to inform stakeholders concerning suicide prevention technology in public spaces. The findings will also aim to feed into national suicide prevention policy.
Talking about the research and the NIHR funding, Dr Mackenzie said: “We are delighted to have been awarded funding for this significant programme of work, which will be the first of its kind to evaluate technologies used for suicide prevention in public spaces. We hope that the outcomes of the work will help inform decision making about implementation of such technologies, and provide an understanding about their effectiveness and perceived acceptability amongst a range of groups.”
The development of the project was supported by the University of Westminster’s Health Innovation and Wellbeing Research Community, and has been developed in collaboration with the National Suicide Prevention Alliance Lived Experience Influencer group.
The Samaritans, who are involved in this project, provide a confidential space for people to talk about their feelings. Their services can be accessed using their free telephone number 116 123 or on the Samaritans website.
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