Acceptance and commitment therapy for suicidality in young adults - a mixed methodology pilot study

Suicide remains a critical public health issue and a leading cause of death among young people. Despite extensive knowledge of risk factors, rates of suicidal behaviour in young adults have not declined. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) shows promise as an intervention for suicidality, yet its application in young adult populations is underexplored. This pilot study evaluated the potential effectiveness of ACT for university students aged 18–25 experiencing suicidal thoughts and behaviours. Using a mixed-methods, quasi-experimental design, six participants attended eight one-to-one ACT sessions and completed pre- and post-intervention measures, assessing suicidality’s impact on wellbeing, experiential avoidance, and hopelessness. Quantitative findings indicated significant improvements across all outcomes. Complementary qualitative data, derived from semi-structured interviews and analysed through reflexive thematic analysis, generated six themes reflecting experiences of shame, judgment, entrapment, autonomy, and self-sufficiency. The qualitative results supported the quantitative outcomes, with participants accounts suggesting reduced experiential avoidance and hopelessness, alongside enhanced emotional regulation, meaning, and sense of control. Together, these findings suggest ACT may be a valuable approach for reducing suicidality and addressing associated risk factors in young adults. This study provides preliminary evidence to inform suicide prevention efforts and highlights the need for larger-scale trials to establish efficacy.

Citation

Bolland, E. (2026) Acceptance and commitment therapy for suicidality in young adults - a mixed methodology pilot study. University of Wolverhampton. https://wlv.openrepository.com/handle/2436/626422

Publisher

University of Wolverhampton

URI

https://wlv.openrepository.com/handle/2436/626422

Type

Thesis or dissertation

Language

en

Description

A thesis submitted to The University of Wolverhampton for the Professional Doctorate in Counselling Psychology (PsychD).

Collections

Theses and Dissertations