There has been rapid development of policy and practice in relation to provision of children’s services in Scotland over the past few years.  The publication of Getting it Right for Every Child signals a new focus on early response to the needs of children and young people and their families – rather than waiting for things to go wrong.

Griesbach & Associates have been involved in a number of studies which aim to improve the lives of children and young people, particularly those who are vulnerable to abuse and neglect. Recent studies have included:

An in-depth qualitative exploration of the links between self-harm and suicide in young people
(Client: Scottish Government)
A previous history of self-harm is one of the strongest predictors of suicide. However, previous research has shown that young people who self-harm often do so for a variety of reasons. Many have no intention whatsoever of taking their own lives. Rather, self-harm is used as a way of coping with psychological / emotional distress and strong feelings which the young person cannot otherwise express.

This study sought to explore the processes by which self-harming behaviour, which many would say is intended for coping and survival, can become suicidal. The study involved in-depth interviews with young people aged 14-25 from across Scotland. The purpose was to identify possible ways of reducing the risk of suicide among young people who self-harm.
[ Summary report | Full report ]

Evaluation of the Dundee Outreach project for children affected by parental substance
(Clients: the Aberlour Child Care Trust, Dundee City Drug & Alcohol Action Team, Scottish Executive & Lloyds TSB Foundation Partnership Drugs Initiative).

The Dundee Outreach Service aims to reduce the impact of problem parental substance use on children aged 16 and under, and their families. The evaluation of this service was one of the actions in the Scottish Government’s national action plan, Hidden Harm – Next Steps (2006).

The study was primarily a process evaluation, which involved the collection of both qualitative and quantitative data. Interviews and / or focus groups were carried out with service users (both adults and children), staff and other professionals from around Dundee who had experience of working with the service. This project was undertaken with associates Marjut Kosonen and Rona Dolev.

Other projects this area:

  • Scoping study on children affected by parental substance use (with Clare Lardner) — for Fife Drug and Alcohol Action Team and Fife Child Protection Committee.
  • The development of a multi-agency protocol on children affected by parental substance use (with Patricia Russell) — for Fife Drug and Alcohol Action Team and Fife Child Protection Committee.
  • Reducing re-offending among young people in Moray — for Moray Community Safety Partnership.
  • Investigating the associations between adolescent smoking and family structure — for the European Commission.
  • An examination of the associations between school smoking policies and perceptions of smoking in Scottish schools — for the European Commission.