Personal profile
Research
My research primarily addresses self-harm, suicidality, and personality disorders, with a focus on clinical challenges encountered in practice. A key area of interest is the ethical and clinical conflicts in psychiatric admissions for individuals with recurrent self-harm and high suicide risk. Our team has standardized the intervention "Brief Admission by Self-referral" and has been conducting a comprehensive multimodal evaluation since 2015.
We also investigate cognitive function, daily functioning, personality traits, and brain imaging in individuals with recurrent self-harm, while developing and evaluating tools for detecting and monitoring self-harm. Furthermore, within the research group studies are conducted in all three areas of national highly specialized psychiatric care: intractable self-harm, severe eating disorders, and gender dysphoria.
My research is principally funded by the Swedish Research Council, Region Skåne, ALF funds, and the Mats Paulsson Foundation.
Subject classification (UKÄ)
- Psychiatry
- Health Care Service and Management, Health Policy and Services and Health Economy
- Applied Psychology (including Clinical Psychology, Psychotherapy)
Free keywords
- self-harm
- suicide prevention
- Borderline Personality Disorder
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being -
SDG 4 Quality Education -
SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities
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Collaborations the last five years
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Medical students' perspectives on learning challenging patient communication through simulated patients: insights mirrored by teachers
Erici, S., Westling, S., Lindqvist, D., Lindström, M. B. & Edelbring, S., 2026 Jan 8, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Medical Teacher. p. 1-10Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Brief user-controlled admission (BUCA) in psychiatric care
Westling, S., Vikström Eckevall, J. & Lindkvist, R.-M., 2025 Dec 7, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Australasian Psychiatry. 10398562251406034.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Brief admission by self-referral for adolescents who self-harm: discourses on involvement and responsibility among parents and other significant adults
Lantto, R., Landgren, K., Eberhard, S., Johansson, B. A., Rask, O. & Westling, S., 2025 Sept 23, In: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health. 19, 102.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Healthcare Professionals' Experiences of Brief Admission by Self-Referral for Adolescents with Self-Harm at Risk of Suicide-A Qualitative Interview Study
Lindkvist, R.-M., Landgren, K., Eberhard, S., Johansson, B. A., Rask, O. & Westling, S., 2025 Sept 5, In: Behavioral Sciences. 15, 9, 9.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Brief Admission by Self-Referral: A 4-Year Follow-Up on Utilisation Patterns and Experiences
Daukantaitė, D., Lindkvist, R.-M., Lantto, R. & Westling, S., 2025 Jul, In: International Journal of Mental Health Nursing. 34, 4, e70091.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access
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Nödvändig eller skadlig? Effekt av tvångsvård på självskada och suicidrisk hos individer med borderline personlighetssyndrom
Westling, S. (Researcher), Rylander, L. (Researcher), Nilsson, M. (Researcher), Vikström Eckevall, J. (Researcher), Lindkvist, R.-M. (Researcher), Runeson, B. (Researcher), James, R.-M. (Researcher), Lantto, R. (Researcher), Åkerman, S. (Researcher) & Andersson, J. (Researcher)
2025/08/01 → 2028/12/31
Project: Research
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Owning the Label: Self-Identification with a Borderline Personality Disorder Diagnosis, and the Clinical and Well-Being Implications
James, R.-M. (Researcher), Nilsson, M. (Supervisor), Westling, S. (Supervisor), Lindkvist, R.-M. (Supervisor) & Vikström Eckevall, J. (Researcher)
2025/01/01 → 2028/01/01
Project: Research
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Navigating the Self in Borderline Personality Disorder: The Centrality of Identity to Self-Injury, Support Pathways, and Symptom Management
James, R.-M. (Researcher), Nilsson, M. (Supervisor), Westling, S. (Supervisor) & Daukantaité, D. (Supervisor)
2024/11/01 → 2027/11/01
Project: Dissertation
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Which factors are relevant for treatment outcome in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy for Borderline Personality Disorder?
Nilsson, M. (PI), Daukantaité, D. (Researcher), Westling, S. (Researcher) & Ruocco, A. C. (Researcher)
2023/09/01 → …
Project: Research
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Intractable self-harm: What support is effective?
Nilsson, M. (PI), Bjärehed, J. (Researcher), Lindkvist, R.-M. (Researcher), Daukantaité, D. (Researcher) & Westling, S. (Researcher)
2023/08/01 → …
Project: Research
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Opponent
Westling, S. (External reviewer)
2025 Feb 24Activity: Examination and supervision › External Reviewer of PhD thesis
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Opponent
Westling, S. (External reviewer)
2023 Apr 25Activity: Examination and supervision › External Reviewer of PhD thesis
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Som ringar på vattnet? Perspektiv på lärande i patientsimuleringar.
Westling, S. (First/primary/lead supervisor), Edelbring, S. (Joint second supervisor), Lindqvist, D. (Joint second supervisor) & Lindström, M. (Joint second supervisor)
2021 → 2023Activity: Examination and supervision › Supervision
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Brukarstyrda inläggningar: erfarenheter hos vuxna med livshotande självskadebeteende, ungdomar, personal, närstående samt en hälsoekonomisk analys.
Westling, S. (First/primary/lead supervisor) & Landgren, K. (Second supervisor)
2020 → 2024Activity: Examination and supervision › Supervision
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Attitudes, cognition, and functional disability in individuals with self-harm and psychiatric disorders
Westling, S. (First/primary/lead supervisor) & Westrin, Å. (Second supervisor)
2015 → 2021Activity: Examination and supervision › Supervision