We are pleased to announce that Lisa Van Hove has been awarded funding from the Maurrange Fund (Koning Boudewijn Foundation) for her new project addressing self-harm in older adults.
While self-harm is often perceived as a problem primarily affecting young people, recent research demonstrates that it also occurs later in life. In Flanders, nearly 1 in 10 older adults reports self-harm after the age of 60. Despite this prevalence, the topic remains under-recognized in healthcare settings.
Primary care professionals — including psychologists, social workers, home nurses, physiotherapists, pharmacists, and general practitioners — are frequently the first and sometimes only point of contact for older adults. However, many indicate that they feel insufficiently prepared to identify and respond to self-harm in this age group.
A Co-Created Practical Toolkit
The funded project aims to address this gap by developing a practical, evidence-based toolkit for primary care professionals. The toolkit will be co-created with:
Older adults with lived experience
Informal caregivers
Primary care professionals
It will provide:
Clear information on self-harm in later life
Guidance on recognizing warning signs
Concrete response strategies tailored to different professional roles
Support strategies for family members and informal caregivers
The project follows a structured participatory process, including stakeholder consultations, co-creation workshops, pilot implementation, and evaluation of impact on professionals’ knowledge, attitudes, and confidence.
By bridging research, lived experience, and frontline practice, this initiative aims to strengthen early recognition and support for older adults, and to break the persistent silence surrounding mental health in later life.