Citation

Oldershaw A, Richards C, Simic M, Schmidt U. Br. J. Psychiatry 2008; 193(2): 140-144.

Affiliation

PO Box 059, Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF UK. anna.oldershaw@iop.kcl.ac.uk.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, Royal College of Psychiatry)

DOI

10.1192/bjp.bp.107.045930

PMID

18669999

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Parents' perspectives on self-harm are considered important, but have not been explored. 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. 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. 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. 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.

Language: en