Summary and outcomes for The Decider Skills course in Wicklow, Ireland from January to March 2019.
40 service users completed the course.
Feedback for the 16 week course included: "I find that The Decider course has changed my life. I have suffered from mental health (problems) since I was 13 and I am now 30. I find the skills really helpful, and am coping much better with my issues... I never thought I would ever be in this good a place, thank you."
Outcomes:
Measure used: CORE (Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation)
Week 1 mean CORE score = 24.65
Week 16 mean CORE score: 5.95
REPORT
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.
Read
IMPACT STORY
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.
Read
CASE STUDY
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.
Read
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.
Read
Dr Bruce Perry, Beacon House
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.
Read
REPORT
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"
Read
REPORT
University of Southampton's report into Upturn Young Person's Service 2017 using The Decider Life Skills
Read
REPORT
Results from The Decider Skills pilot group held in Aberdeen
Read
A poster presentation providing a summary of studies 2017
Read
REPORT
Increasing resilience by teaching The Decider Life Skills to student mental health nurses in Ireland
Read
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.
Read
REPORT
Outcome data for young people who completed The Decider Skills group in 2016
Read
REPORT
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
Read
REPORT
The Decider Skills group show evidence of a reduction in global distress, anxiety and depression
Read
REPORT
During 2016, 55 service users and 23 staff attended The Decider Life Skills half day workshop. Brief report and feedback. Written by Ayres & Vivyan
Read
Read
STUDY
Lockdown in a specialist rehabilitation unit: The best of times.
Read
Palumbo, R., Di Domenico, A., Fairfield, B. et al.
When twice is better than once: increased liking of repeated items influences memory in younger and older adults
Read
STUDY
The PARC Project - County Wicklow, Ireland
Read