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Exploring Support Preferences for Young Women Who Self-Harm: A Qualitative Study
Demee Rheinberger1, Smrithi Ravindra1, Aimy Slade1
1Black Dog Institute, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2033, Australia.
Summary
Young women experiencing self-harm desire accessible information and coping strategies. They prefer receiving support from health professionals and schools in written or digital formats.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Public Health
- Mental Health Research
Background:
- Rising rates of self-harm among young women in high-income countries necessitate tailored support.
- Understanding specific needs is crucial for effective interventions and mitigating negative outcomes of self-harm.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the support preferences of Australian young women with a history of self-harm.
- To identify desired types of support and preferred delivery methods for self-harm-related assistance.
Main Methods:
- Conducted semi-structured interviews with 27 young women (mean age 20.9 years) recruited via social media.
- Utilized Reflexive Thematic Analysis to analyze verbatim interview transcripts.
Main Results:
- Participants desired information on self-harm, interventions, and coping strategies, alongside education for their social circles.
- Preferences included receiving information from health professionals and in schools, preferably in written or digital formats.
- Some participants indicated a preference for no support.
Conclusions:
- Enhanced access to formal, confidential mental health support for young women is vital.
- Educating caregivers and health professionals about self-harm is essential.
- Schools can play a significant role in delivering mental health information and support resources.
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