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Supporting young people who repeatedly self-harm

Thomas Coram Research Unit, Institute of Education, University of London, 27-28 Woburn Square, London WC1H 0AA, England, p.storey{at}ioe.ac.uk

Jane Hurry, BSc, MSc, PhD

Psychology and Human Development, Institute of Education, University of London, 25 Woburn Square, London WC1H 0AA, England, j.hurry{at}ioe.ac.uk

Sharon Jowitt, BSc, MPhil

Academic Unit of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, University of Leeds, 15 Hyde Terrace, Leeds LS2 9LT, England

David Owens, BSc, MBChB, MRCPsych, MD

School of Medicine, University of Leeds, 15 Hyde Terrace, Leeds LS2 9LT, England, d.w.owens{at}leeds.ac.uk

Allan House, BSc, MBBS, MRCP, MRCPsych, DM

Academic Unit of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, University of Leeds, 15 Hyde Terrace, Leeds LS2 9LT, England, a.o.house{at}leeds.ac.uk

This paper explores the views and experiences of a group of 74 young people aged 16-22 who were interviewed following presentation in accident and emergency (A&E) departments after intentionally harming themselves. It focuses on a sub-group of 38 young people with a history of self-harm behaviour that extended from when they were under the age of 16, one-third of whom had been or were currently in care. Whilst some had kept their self-harming hidden and had not received any professional intervention until they reached adulthood, others had been in touch with services, although their treatment had not prevented them from continuing to self-harm. Medication was perceived as ‘fobbing off’, particularly when unaccompanied by other treatments. The young people described their encounters with counsellors and clinicians, some of whom they perceived not to understand or to listen to their perspective. Whilst not representative of all young people who self-harm, these views are important and deserve attention if interventions for children and adolescents are to prevent repetition of self-harm.

Key Words: Adolescent • child • deliberate self-harm • looked after • user views

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