What’s the project?
Content Warning // Research opportunity is focused on eating disorders, food restriction and self-harm
Researchers at the NHS want to do research to better understand if and when limiting food and fluids is a form of self-harm rather than a symptom of an eating disorder. During patient and public involvement sessions young people described this as ‘Restricted Intake Self-Harm (RISH)’. The research team want to work with young people, families, and clinicians to explore the symptoms, treatment experiences, and support needs of RISH. The findings will help create guidance for professionals, future research recommendations and improve care for young people affected by RISH.
Self-harm is increasing in young people and some have described that they do this by restricting their intake of food or fluids. It can be hard for health professionals to tell the difference between an eating disorder and self-harm through restricted intake. This means these young people may be misdiagnosed. A survey of 170 UK health professionals found that most had experience of working with young people who had restricted their intake to self-harm. Many of them felt that RISH needs a different treatment approach to anorexia.
Some even worried that treating young people with RISH in the way that is recommended for anorexia makes the symptoms worse. This research will explore the symptoms, risks, and treatment needs and responses in young people identified as having RISH.
The research team will interview young people who health professionals have identified as having RISH and their parents/carers, and review clinical records to learn about RISH signs and treatment responses. The interviews will help the team understand RISH presentations and how it relates to self-harm and eating disorders. They will learn what treatments were offered and which ones helped young people with RISH. The review of clinical records will also help the team understand how RISH is recognised and treated in healthcare. The team will be applying for NHS ethical approval for this study.
Why the team want your help!
Young people, parents/carers, and clinicians will be involved throughout this study. At the beginning of the study, the team will meet them individually or in small groups, depending on their preference. The team will co-design the interview questions, so they reflect lived-experiences and priorities from young people, parents and clinicians. They also need help to review findings and co-create materials, such as videos. This will help them ensure findings of this study clear, useful and accessible for young people, families, and professionals.
Find out more
The team need your help to co-design the interview questions, so they reflect lived-experiences and priorities from young people, parents and clinicians. They also need help to review findings and co-create materials, such as videos. Meetings can be 1:1, in a group in person and/or online depending on peoples preferences. There will be 2 meetings initially and at the end of the study to create the videos etc there will be a further 3 meetings. There will be a few emails in between to keep everyone up to date or if further advice is needed from the group. There is no need to commit to the whole project. You will be paid in vouchers for your time.
- Must be based in the UK
- Must have experienced symptoms of RISH (eg not eating to manage emotions – a clinician involved in this research will ask a couple of questions about this to check you have had experience of RISH)
- Currently aged 11-21 years
- You will be paid in vouchers for your time, £50 per meeting
- If you want to meet in person travel expenses will be paid
If you are interested in this opportunity, please email ([email protected]) with brief answers to the following questions:
- What is your name?
- What is your age?
- What is your gender?
- What is your ethnicity?
- Are you based in the UK?
- Why are you interested in this specific opportunity?
- Have you ever restricted your intake of food/fluids as a form of self-harm (rather than to loose weight or “be healthy”)?
- Sometimes after talking about topics like mental health, people feel they need a little extra support or someone to chat to. What support do you currently have in place (e.g. supportive friends, family, health professionals or mental health charities)? Is there anything that the COMIC research team could do to support you or make your involvement experience better?
You are welcome to send your responses in audio or video format if preferred. If you need any help completing your expression of interest, you can get in touch with Clare.
Wednesday 15th July 2026
Please note that the McPin Foundation regularly promotes opportunities on behalf of other institutions; we are not responsible for the continuation or contents of further correspondence with any project partners where we are not listed as the project main point of contact.
