A rationale for service responses to self-injury

In this paper, reasons reported by people who self-injure to explain this behaviour are presented.

Traditional service responses are examined and it is suggested that these may exacerbate the reasons why people self-injure and are likely to create vulnerability to further harm.

A rationale is presented which suggests that service-providers should aim to respond to the specific feelings underlying self-injury (SI) in a therapeutic way.

Guidance is provided for implementing constructive responses to SI within clinical practice.

If service-providers are trained to understand and accept SI as a comprehensible act of coping, then attitudes of respect and empathy are more likely to be exhibited. In turn, these approaches are therapeutic to service-users, potentially mitigating the feelings that initially prompt SI.