Projects with collaborators from different countries are undertaken to address global health problems. The value of qualitative research in this context is slowly recognised, but there are challenges when working across countries, cultures, and spaces. Qualitative research that is culturally sensitive and focuses on the perspectives of people within their local contexts is needed, this includes not, only recruitment of participants and data collection, but also mindful data analysis.

The aim of this workshop was to explore issues when conducting qualitative research in low- and middle-income countries on topics that may be taboo or stigmatised, such as self-harm and mental health. As part of the workshop, we shared experiences and learning from our project, the South Asia Self Harm Initiative (SASHI). This covered a range of issues such as strategies for collaborative research processes (including data collection and analysis) and sharing of knowledge. We looked at practical and methodological challenges. Some of the topics were explored in more detail through various activities and discussions. Participants’ questions and experiences were important elements feeding into the interactive part of the workshop. We jointly formulated suggestions for good practice. The workshop was of relevance not only to people working across countries but also people conducting research across different teams.