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Help-seeking for suicidal thoughts and self-harm in young people: a systematic review
Lisa Michelmore1, Peter Hindley
1South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Maudsley Hospital, Denmark Hill, England. lisa.michelmore@slam.nhs.uk
Suicide & Life-Threatening Behavior
|August 15, 2012
Summary
Most young people experiencing suicidal thoughts or self-harm do not seek professional medical help. Instead, they often turn to peers within their social networks for support, highlighting a need for further research.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- A significant number of young individuals experiencing suicidal ideation or self-harm do not access formal health services.
- This lack of engagement is concerning due to the critical need for mental illness treatment and suicide risk reduction in this demographic.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review international community epidemiological studies on help-seeking behaviors among young people (up to age 26) with suicidal thoughts or self-harm.
- To identify patterns, influencing factors, and barriers in the help-seeking process for this population.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of previously published international community epidemiological studies.
- Analysis of data focusing on help-seeking for suicidal thoughts and self-harm in individuals up to 26 years old.
Main Results:
- The majority of young people with suicidal thoughts or self-harm do not seek professional help, including medical attention for overdoses.
- Peer networks are the most common source of help sought by these young individuals.
- Barriers and facilitators influencing help-seeking behaviors were identified across the reviewed studies.
Conclusions:
- Young people experiencing suicidal thoughts or self-harm predominantly rely on social networks, particularly peers, rather than professional health services.
- Further research is essential to understand the complex roles of peers and family in the help-seeking journey of young individuals facing these challenges.
- Interventions should consider leveraging social networks to improve access to care for youth mental health and suicide prevention.
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