Help-seeking before and after self-harm in school pupils
Author Information
Author(s): Sarah Fortune, Julia Sinclair, Keith Hawton
Primary Institution: University of Oxford Centre for Suicide Research
Hypothesis
What sources of help do adolescents with a lifetime history of self-harm approach before and after an episode of DSH?
Conclusion
Adolescents primarily seek help from friends and family, but many do not access formal support services.
Supporting Evidence
- 40% of adolescents sought help from friends before self-harm episodes.
- 11% sought help from family members.
- Only a small number accessed formal services like psychologists or doctors.
- Barriers to help-seeking included fear of being labeled as attention-seeking.
Takeaway
When kids hurt themselves, they usually talk to friends or family for help, but many don't ask for help from doctors or counselors.
Methodology
A school-based survey of 5,293 adolescents aged 15-16 in the UK using self-report questionnaires.
Potential Biases
Recall biases may affect the accuracy of reported experiences.
Limitations
Selection biases due to non-attendance and incomplete questionnaires limit generalizability.
Participant Demographics
Approximately 87.9% of respondents completed the questionnaire; nearly three-quarters were female, 88% were white, and 59% had been exposed to DSH among peers.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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