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Sharing findings and lessons learned from the Speek Together CONNECT Study
08 October 2026, 12:30 pm–2:00 pm
Webinar Presented by Dr Olivia Collier and Dr Elizabeth Simes
This event is free.
Event Information
Open to
- All
Availability
- Yes
Cost
- Free
Organiser
-
Psychoanalysis Unit
About
Self-harm in young people is a growing public health concern, yet access to evidence-based treatment remains inconsistent and inequitable across the NHS. This talk presents findings from Speek Together CONNECT Study, a feasibility study of Speek, a clinician-delivered, digital DBT-A–informed platform co-developed with over 400 families and clinicians. The study enrolled 23 adolescent–caregiver dyads and demonstrated strong engagement (86% retention). Families were encouraged to share their experiences through qualitative and qualitative methods which explored emotional regulation, anxiety, depression, and caregiver burden. This talk will cover what we found, what it means for NHS pathways, and what comes next.
Biographies
Dr Olivia Collier is a Clinical Psychologist and Chief Clinical Officer at Speek Health, a digital health company developing clinician-delivered DBT-A–informed support for young people who self-harm and their families. Olivia has years of experience working in the NHS and has led the clinical development of Speek from co-design through to NIHR-supported evaluation. She is passionate about harnessing digital innovation to shift mental health support earlier and closer to young people - expanding access without compromising clinical rigour. She is an advocate for equitable, evidence-based care for all and believes that innovation, done well, is one of the most powerful tools the NHS has to reach the families who need support most.
Dr Elizabeth Simes is a Senior Research Fellow at University College London and Principal Research Coordinator at Anna Freud. She is Co-Principal Investigator alongside Professor Peter Fonagy on the CONNECT study at UCL. Her work focuses on the design and evaluation of community-based mental health interventions across healthcare and criminal justice settings, with particular emphasis on advancing evidence-based provision for populations facing barriers to accessing care and embedding patient and public involvement throughout the research lifecycle.