People experiencing homelessness face significant social and economic challenges (e.g., poverty, social exclusion) which places them at greater risk of a range of acute and chronic health problems, as well as problem substance use and severe mental health challenges. Accessing healthcare and treatment can also be particularly challenging due to stigma, negative attitudes from staff, and inflexible services. Harm reduction, peer-delivered, and trauma/psychologically informed approaches have shown considerable promise for positively delivering care to these individuals.
Despite the increasing recognition of the value of peer support, and a growing evidence base, there are no trials reported in homelessness and substance abuse. This is partly due to the complexity of conducting trials with this population, given they are commonly excluded from environments where trials might be conducted.
SHARPS (Supporting Harm Reduction Through Peer Support) is a cluster randomised controlled trial funded by the NIHR HTA programme. It aims to recruit 550 people attending The Salvation Army Services and experiencing homelessness and problem substance use from 20 clusters across England and Scotland.
The intervention is a relational, peer-delivered intervention, informed by harm reduction and psychologically informed environment principles. The Peer Navigators will have a lived experience of problem substance use and/or homelessness and will work with the clients for a 12-month period, providing practical and emotional support.
Outcomes measures will be collected at baseline and at 6-months, 12-months and 15-months post-recruitment, to determine whether the 12-month SHARPS intervention improves mental health and quality of life, compared to standard homelessness care.
SHARPS is led by Professor Tessa Parkes based at the University of Stirling and Professor Graeme MacLennan based at the University of Aberdeen.
For more information please see the SHARPS Study Website.
Contacts
- Suzanne Breeman; s.breeman@abdn.ac.uk
- Seonaidh Cotton; s.c.cotton@abdn.ac.uk