The Research Group Radicalization, Terrorism, and Extremism Prevention invites researchers working on extremism and related topics to the seminar “Unmet mental health needs in the threat assessment of targeted violence” with guest speaker Amber Seaward, PhD (University College London).
Abstract: Clinical practitioner experience implies high levels of unmet mental health needs in the development towards targeted violence of many forms, where mental illnesses have been insufficiently treated by mainstream services. Safeguarding through the public health approach is an explicit strategy within many threat assessment programmes. Part of this involves treating these unmet needs, to both reduce violence risk and improve outcomes for individuals. In the UK countering violent extremism (CVE) policy space, safeguarding’s role is questioned regarding its genuine implementation in the benefit of individuals referred, and its relevance to preventing terrorism. Despite this clinical and policy attention, empirical research is lacking – while much research examines mental illness’s role in violence, unmet mental health needs garner less attention.
In her seminar, Amber Seaward will discuss findings from several recent research projects examining unmet needs, regarding CVE and fixated threats to public figures. She asks the same questions of each: 1) how prevalent are unmet mental health needs in referrals, and do they disproportionately affect certain diagnoses? 2) are those with unmet needs judged or observed to be more concerning? 3) what interventions are directed to those with unmet needs? These questions have important implications, to facilitate transparency and trust in these programmes, and refine our understanding of the relationship between mental illness and violence risk. For practice, unmet mental health needs highlight a potential risk factor for threat assessment, and a promising avenue for risk management.
Amber Seaward completed her PhD at University College London in 2025 and is currently a postdoctoral Research Fellow. Her PhD research focused on the threat assessment of terrorism and targeted violence. Specifically, it examined how threat assessment is implemented in different regions and settings, the risk factors for different extremist and terrorist behaviours, and the role of unmet mental health needs in threat assessment’s public health approach. Amber has worked on projects with or commissioned by the UK Fixated Threat Assessment Centre, UK Home Office, UK Prevent programme’s Vulnerability Support Hubs, Theseus Fixated Risk Management, the US Department of Homeland Security, and the Youth Endowment Fund.
When: December 9, 2025, 16:00 to 17:30
Where: PRIF – Leibniz-Institut für Friedens- und Konfliktforschung, Darmstädter Landstraße 112, 60598 Frankfurt/M.
Link to participate online via Zoom