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Parents' perspectives on adolescent self-harm: qualitative study.

Authors :
Oldershaw A
Richards C
Simic M
Schmidt U
Source :
The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science [Br J Psychiatry] 2008 Aug; Vol. 193 (2), pp. 140-4.
Publication Year :
2008

Abstract

Background: Parents' perspectives on self-harm are considered important, but have not been explored.<br />Aims: To gain perspective of parents of adolescents who self-harm on: (a) history of self-harm and health service provision; (b) their understanding and ability to make sense of self-harm behaviour; (c) emotional and personal impact; and (d) parent skills as carer and hope for the future.<br />Method: Interpretative phenomenological analysis was applied to semi-structured interviews with 12 parents of adolescents receiving treatment for self-harm in community child and adolescent mental health services.<br />Results: Parents commonly suspected and spotted self-harm prior to disclosure or service contact; however, communication difficulties and underestimating significance led to delays in addressing the behaviour. Parents struggled to understand and cope with self-harm.<br />Conclusions: Parents require advice and support from outside services to help them manage self-harming behaviour and its personal impact. This study suggests parents are early to spot signs of self-harm, indicating their key role in reaching young people in the community who remain unknown to health services.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
0007-1250
Volume :
193
Issue :
2
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
18669999
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.bp.107.045930