Mental Health

What is the research study about?
You are invited to take part in this research study. The research study aims to understand the mental well-being of women recently released from prison. You have been invited to participate because you were released from your first imprisonment sentence within the last year.

Who is conducting this research?
This study is being carried out by Laura Doherty, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at UNSW.

Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria
The research study is looking recruit people who identify as female and were released from prison within the last year.

Do I have to take part in this research study?
Participation in this research study is voluntary. If you do not want to take part, you do not have to. If you decide you want to take part in the research study, you will be asked to read the information carefully (ask questions if necessary) and complete the online questionnaire. 

What does participation in this research require, and are there any risks involved?
If you decide to take part in the research study, I will be asking you to complete an online questionnaire. The questionnaire will ask you ten questions about your life and mental well-being. It should take approximately 15 minutes to complete.
We don’t expect this questionnaire to cause any harm or discomfort, however if you experience feelings of distress as a result of participation in this study you can let the research team know and they will provide you with assistance.

What will happen to information about me?
Submission of the online questionnaire is an indication of your consent. By clicking the ‘Continue’ button you are providing your permission for the research team to collect and use information about you for the research study. Your data will be kept for a period of 7 years after the project’s completion. We will store information about you in a non-identifiable format in the UNSW data repository. Your information will only be used to gain an understanding of the mental health of ex-detainees, and will remain confidential. 

How and when will I find out what the results of the research study are?
The researcher intends to report the results of the research study in a variety of ways. However, all information published will be done in a way that will not identify you. If you would like to receive a copy of the results you can let the research team know by emailing me at [email protected]. We will only use these details to send you the results of the research.  

What if I want to withdraw from the research study? 
If you do consent to participate, you may withdraw at any time. You can do this by closing the questionnaire. If you withdraw from the research we will destroy any information that has already been collected. Once you have submitted the questionnaire however, we will not be able to withdraw your responses as the questionnaire is anonymous. 

What should I do if I have further questions about my involvement in the research study?
The person you may need to contact will depend on the nature of your query. If you require further information regarding this study or if you have any problems which may be related to your involvement in the study, you can contact the following member of the research team:
Research Team Contact
Laura Doherty 
0424 028 283
[email protected]

If at any stage during the study you become distressed or require additional support from someone not involved in the research please call:
UNSW Counselling and Psychological Services
9385 5418
[email protected]

What if I have a complaint or any concerns about the research study?
If you have a complaint regarding any aspect of the study or the way it is being conducted, please contact the UNSW Human Ethics Coordinator:
Human Research Ethics Coordinator
9385 6222
[email protected] 
HC Reference Number: Not applicable [not a real ethics form]

Declaration by the participant
I understand I am being asked to provide consent to participate in this research study;
I provide my consent for the information collected about me to be used for the purpose of this research study only;
I understand that if necessary I can ask questions and the research team will respond to my questions;
I freely agree to participate in this research study as described and understand that I am free to withdraw at any time during the study and withdrawal will not affect my relationship with any of the named organisations and/or research team members.