A Systematic Literature Review of Experiences of Professional Care and Support Among People Who Self-Harm

Abstract

Self-harm is an increasing phenomenon among young people, with potentially fatal outcomes. Patient’s perceptions of treatment and support are poorly documented. The aim was to synthesise the experiences of those who self-harm, with special reference to professional care and support by family, friends, and the school system. A systematic review of the literature was conducted. Following retrieval of 1,623 abstracts, 14 studies were included in the final analysis, 11 of which are reported here. Two quantitative studies as well as 1 mixed method study on self-care could not be reported on here due to word limitations. Adult people who self-harm described the importance of quality in the caring relationship and a tailored care designed for each individual. There is a need for more studies into adolescents who self-harm but of importance is the adolescents’ need for support from the adult world. A positive relationship between patient and healthcare professional can be crucial in motivating continued treatment of people who self-harm. A major priority is radical improvement in the attitudes of healthcare personnel.

Keywords:

• adolescents
• adults
• experiences of care
• school support
• self-harm
• systematic review

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Britt-Marie Lindgren

Britt-Marie Lindgren, Department of Nursing, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.

Carl Göran Svedin

Carl Göran Svedin, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.

Sophie Werkö

Sophie Werkö, Swedish Agency for Health Technology Assessment and Assessment of Social Services (SBU) and Department of Learning, Informatics, Management and Ethics (LIME), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.