Each attendee completed a questionnaire using a Likert scale of 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree) regarding effective coping skills.

The mean score for service users' self-rated effective coping skills at the start of workshop was 13.9 and  20.9 at end of workshop.

Staff's mean scores increased from 20 at start of workshop to 26.3 at end of workshop.

 

Written feedback received:

  • A very informative workshop. Thank you.
  • Thank you! This is a very helpful workshop to help explain the skills that people can use when they’re feeling the fizz. It would be great if you could run courses like this in primary school, especially now the new curriculum is addressing mental health and wellbeing.
  • Have found this very useful but not totally relevant in coping with anxiety and ways to do so, more relevant to anger and stress. But overall will be used in my day to day life. Very entertaining too!
  • Not sure how much I’ll be able to remember.
  • A very inspiring, entertaining workshop. Very informative. Thank you.
  • Thank you. The course was very interesting. I came to support my friend as she felt I needed the course as well. And I did. Thank you again.
  • Thank you very much… a thought provoking workshop …I shall visit the website. Thanks again for all the energy you put into today’s presentation.
  • Just a big thank you.
  • Thank you so much for this course. I was very anxious about coming but am so glad I did. It was a serious topic presented in a fun way which will definitely help me with my emotions.
  • Very informative and interesting course. I will admit I was sceptical at first but I feel that if I implement these actions it will help me greatly.
  • Although this workshop was very good, because I have been so mentally unwell for so long without any help, I have already started doing a lot of these myself. I think if anything this has made me realise how far I have come and how proud I am of myself!
  • I have heard about the skills but only briefly, this has deepened my understanding though I think they should be taught sooner.
  • Very helpful in a light-hearted and comical manner!
  • Immediately, I don’t believe huge amounts have changed, I do however believe that with some time to practise these skills, I may be able to make these a natural part of my thought processes. I do feel with time it will help.
  • I am hopeful, however until I have had the chance to use these skills I do not know how well they will work, but am eager to try.
  • I am 37 and for the past 20 years I never thought I could change. This has given me hope. Thank you.
  • This was really helpful – I thought of lots of everyday examples where I could be using these skills to manage better. Thank you.
  • Was a great way to get the 12 skills across. Acting out each skills really makes a statement.
  • Personable and informative course. Many skills which I use with my service users and some which I have not but now will! Relaxed environment and delivered with great effect.
  • Very useful personally and also I can see many ways I can use it with the people I work with.
  • I like the way it was set out
  • A well presented course that delivered the information clearly
  • Easily understandable. Easy to know when to use. Enjoyed a lot. Many thanks.

 

Read the full report

Read More

REPORT

Impact report from South Perthshire Community Mental Health Team

South Perthshire Community Mental Health Team have provided their most recent report on the impact of Decider Skills. They offer a structured yet informal space for individuals to develop essential life skills. Led by Karen and Ellie, these sessions empower participants to manage emotions, build resilience, and connect with others through shared experiences. They currently deliver reoccurring groups in 3 locations across South Perthshire as well as numerous 1:1's during clinic hours.

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IMPACT STORY

Mental health, substance use, and trauma in women

Senior Occupational Therapist within SPRING service, Louise Paul, shares their thoughts on how implementing the Decider Skills has impacted the people they work with. Louise has also provided quotes from some of the women who attend their groups.

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CASE STUDY

KITE Autism Service, Kilkenny — Building calm, shared language and everyday strategies

KITE Autism Service in Kilkenny completed its first Decider Skills programme in 2025. The service enrolled a small group of participants and committed to reinforcing the skills after the course finished, embedding the approach into day‑to‑day practice.

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The evidence base for The Decider Skills: CBT & DBT information (1)

A summary of the evidence basis for Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), the psychological theory and practice that serve as the foundation for the Decider Skills.

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Dr Bruce Perry, Beacon House

The Three Rs

Dr Bruce Perry, a pioneering neuroscientist in the field of trauma, has shown us that to help a vulnerable child to learn, think and reflect, we need to intervene in a simple sequence.

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REPORT

North of Scotland CAMHS

Feedback from a 2 day workshop attended by CAMHS professionals & from young service users. The Decider has since "become embedded in the Inpatient Unit and proved to be very popular with the young people with a good regular weekly attendance. This is a fairly new group but has been measured using the DERS 18 questionnaire which measures aspects of emotional regulation. The results of the group are promising"

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REPORT

Upturn Young Person’s Service

University of Southampton's report into Upturn Young Person's Service 2017 using The Decider Life Skills

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REPORT

NHS Grampian - The Decider Skills Pilot Group

Results from The Decider Skills pilot group held in Aberdeen

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The Decider Life Skills in Guernsey

A poster presentation providing a summary of studies 2017

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REPORT

The Lincara Centre, Wicklow, Ireland

Summary and outcomes for The Decider Skills course in Wicklow, Ireland from January to March 2019.

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REPORT

Building resilience in mental health nurses

Increasing resilience by teaching The Decider Life Skills to student mental health nurses in Ireland

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The Decider Skills pilot study 2013

Results of the initial pilot study with 20 long term mental health service users which formed the foundation of The Decider Skills programme in 2012-2013.

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REPORT

CAMHS data for The Decider Skills

Outcome data for young people who completed The Decider Skills group in 2016

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REPORT

Delivering The Decider Life Skills via Highland Pharmacists

A multi-perspective evaluation of specialist mental health clinical pharmacist prescribers practising within general practices in NHS Highland Provided by NHS Highland and Robert Gordon University 2018

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REPORT

Portlaoise Poster

The Decider Skills group show evidence of a reduction in global distress, anxiety and depression

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STOPP skill - the evidence base

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STUDY

Lockdown in a specialised rehabilitation unit

Lockdown in a specialist rehabilitation unit: The best of times.

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Palumbo, R., Di Domenico, A., Fairfield, B. et al.

Repetition

When twice is better than once: increased liking of repeated items influences memory in younger and older adults

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STUDY

The PARC Project

The PARC Project - County Wicklow, Ireland

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