Understanding self-harm in young people with long-term pain
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Understanding self-harm in young people with long-term pain |
Dr Verena Hinze at the University of Oxford will study why some young people who live with long-term pain experience self-harm thoughts or behaviours while others do not. This research will help pain services identify young people who may need extra support earlier, so they can get the right help at the right time.
Research overview
In the UK, nearly 3 million young people live with long-term pain, including from conditions such as back pain or arthritis. Long-term, or chronic, pain means pain that lasts for 3 months or more. While some young people cope well, others may experience severe distress. For some, this distress can include self-harm thoughts and behaviours. This project will understand why this happens, who is most at risk, and how we can help earlier. By working closely with young people and healthcare staff, this research will develop better ways to spot warning signs and offer support that fits within existing healthcare services. This matters because many young people with chronic pain do not get the support they need at the right time.
My research has shown that nearly 1 in 10 teenagers with chronic pain report self-harm thoughts or behaviours and this is even more common in young people who attend specialist pain services
What is the aim of this research?
This project will identify important psychological and social factors that may increase risk over time and evaluate current pain services to show whether current care is meeting young people’s needs. The researchers will work with young people and clinicians to co-design a new intervention to help pain services respond to severe distress. So that young people feel seen and supported.
‘This project will support the development of practical, evidence-based support strategies that can be delivered within existing pain services, helping to improve integrated care, reduce distress, and ensure that no young person has to suffer alone’. Dr Verena Hinze, University of Oxford
Why is this research important?
Long-term pain affects about 1 in 5 children and teenagers, and about 1 in 3 adults. In the UK, this means around 2.9 million young people and 15.9 million adults. For many young people, pain does not stop when they grow up. It can continue into adulthood and make school, work, friendships and daily activities harder. Dr Hinze’s earlier research found that young people with long-term pain were more likely to report self-harm thoughts or actions than young people without long-term pain. This suggests that pain itself may increase the risk. Pain services could therefore play an important role in noticing when a young person needs help and making sure they get it.
This project is directly relevant to young people living with arthritis and other chronic pain conditions, who experience severe distress and may not currently receive the support they need. This research will help identify which young people are most at risk, when risk increases, and why some continue to struggle even after pain treatment.
The Arthritis UK Career Development Fellowship provides the time, resources, and mentorship I need to lead this important work at the intersection of paediatric chronic pain and adolescent mental health.
What are we doing?
Identifying risk factors
Dr Hinze will look at information available from large research studies to understand the relationship between chronic pain and self-harm thoughts and behaviours over time. This will help the researchers to understand who may be more at risk, when that risk may happen and why. And what psychological and social factors may play a role.
Looking at current care
The team will look at information from UK pain services to see if young people still experience self-harm thoughts and behaviours after treatment. This will show whether current care is working and where it needs to improve.
Designing better support
Dr Hinze will work together with young people and healthcare staff to create new ways to help pain services support those at risk. These ideas will be shaped by what young people say is most helpful to them so that healthcare teams can use within their services. This support will then be tested with a small group of young people aged 16 to 24 to see if it is useful, easy to use, and practical.
What happens next?
These insights will help healthcare professionals recognise and respond to mental health difficulties earlier within routine care.
Over time, this research will support the development of practical, evidence-based support that can be delivered within existing pain services, helping to improve integrated care, reduce distress, and ensure that no young person has to suffer alone.
Meet the team
Dr Verena Hinze – Lead researcher
ORCiD: Verena Hinze (0000-0001-7722-2064) - ORCID
Dr Verena Hinze is a Research Fellow at the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Oxford.
Her research explores the connection between physical and mental health, with a particular focus on young people. She is especially interested in understanding the link between chronic pain and severe distress, including the risk of self-harm. Verena’s research draws on developmental and clinical psychology with the aim to promote mental wellbeing, prevent mental health difficulties and improve support for those who are currently struggling.
She collaborates closely with pain management services (including the Oxford Centre for Children & Young People in Pain, a specialised paediatric pain management service in Oxford) to ensure that her research addresses the real-life needs of adolescents with chronic pain, their families, and healthcare providers.
Key research information
- Project status: Active
- Start date: 01/06/2026
- Expected completion date: 31/05/2031
- Lead researcher: Dr Verena Hinze
- Research partners: N/A
- Location: University of Oxford
- Main topic: Chronic pain, young people, mental health.
- Grant Ref: 23390
Related research
Title: Suicidal distress in adolescents with chronic pain: Who is at risk, when and why?
Grant Ref: 23253
Project status: Complete
Start date: 01/03/2024
Expected completion date: 31/05/2026
Lead researcher: Dr Verena Hinze
Funding partner: Medical Research Foundation (MRF)
Location: University of Oxford
Main topic: Chronic pain, young people, mental health.
Live project page:
News article: New research to tackle musculoskeletal pain in young people | Arthritis UK