scholarly journals Who can best support young people who self-harm?

2020 ◽  

A new study published in Child and Adolescent Mental Health has investigated what forms of support young people who self-harm find helpful.

2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 152-159
Author(s):  
Hiran Thabrew ◽  
Ernest Gandeza ◽  
Giselle Bahr ◽  
David Bettany ◽  
Chris Bampton ◽  
...  

Objectives: Self-harm is common in New Zealand (NZ) young people and can have short-term and long-term consequences, including suicide. This study was undertaken to examine the extent to which evidence-based approaches for addressing self-harm are offered by Infant, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (ICAMHS). Methods: A national survey of ICAMHS practitioners working with young people who self-harm was undertaken between May and July 2016. Results: Responses from 23 out of 30 ICAMHS confirmed self-harm was a familiar presentation and most commonly associated with diagnoses of depression, anxiety and borderline personality disorder. Cognitive behavioural therapy (47.1%, n = 8), dialectical behaviour therapy (47.1%, n = 8) and acceptance and commitment therapy (5.9%, n = 1) were the treatments of choice, but variably delivered. There were significant training gaps for all types of therapy. Conclusions: Although it is reassuring that many ICAMHS are using evidence-based approaches to address self-harm in young people, there is concerning variability in the way these therapies are delivered. Improvement in training in key modalities, further research into therapist performance and continuous evaluation of workforce development are needed to maximise the effectiveness of proven interventions and provide NZ young people with the state-of-the-art service they deserve.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. e0262070
Author(s):  
Samantha Hartley ◽  
Tomos Redmond ◽  
Katherine Berry

Child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS), especially inpatient units, have arguably never been more in demand and yet more in need of reform. Progress in psychotherapy and more broadly in mental health care is strongly predicted by the therapeutic relationship between professional and service user. This link is particularly pertinent in child and adolescent mental health inpatient services where relationships are especially complex and difficult to develop and maintain. This article describes a qualitative exploration of the lived experienced of 24 participants (8 young people, 8 family members/carers and 8 nursing staff) within inpatient CAMHS across four sites in the UK. We interviewed participants individually and analysed the transcripts using thematic analysis within a critical realist framework. We synthesised data across groups and present six themes, encapsulating the intricacies and impact of therapeutic relationships; their development and maintenance: Therapeutic relationships are the treatment, Cultivating connection, Knowledge is power, Being human, The dance, and It’s tough for all of us in here. We hope these findings can be used to improve quality of care by providing a blueprint for policy, training, systemic structures and staff support.


BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. e027339 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hristina Petkova ◽  
Mima Simic ◽  
Dasha Nicholls ◽  
Tamsin Ford ◽  
A Matthew Prina ◽  
...  

ObjectivesThis study aimed to estimate the incidence of DSM5 anorexia nervosa in young people in contact with child and adolescent mental health services in the UK and Ireland.DesignObservational, surveillance study, using the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Surveillance System, involving monthly reporting by child and adolescent psychiatrists between 1st February 2015 and 30th September 2015.SettingThe study was based in the UK and Ireland.ParticipantsClinician-reported data on young people aged 8–17 in contact with child and adolescent mental health services for a first episode of anorexia nervosa.Main outcome measuresAnnual incidence rates (IRs) estimated as confirmed new cases per 100 000 population at risk.Results305 incident cases of anorexia nervosa were reported over the 8-month surveillance period and assessed as eligible for inclusion. The majority were young women (91%), from England (70%) and of white ethnicity (92%). Mean age was 14.6 years (±1.66) and mean percentage of median expected body mass index for age and sex was 83.23% (±10.99%). The overall IR, adjusted for missing data, was estimated to be 13.68 per 100 000 population (95% CI 12.88 to 14.52), with rates of 25.66 (95% CI 24.09 to 27.30) for young women and 2.28 (95% CI 1.84 to 2.79) for young men. Incidence increased steadily with age, peaking at 15 (57.77, 95% CI 50.41 to 65.90) for young women and 16 (5.14, 95% CI 3.20 to 7.83) for young men. Comparison with earlier estimates suggests IRs for children aged 12 and under have increased over the last 10 years.ConclusionThese results provide new estimates of the incidence of anorexia nervosa in young people. Service providers and commissioners should consider evidence to suggest an increase in incidence in younger children.Trial registration numberISRCTN12676087.


SAGE Open ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 215824401774511 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Hassett ◽  
Chloe Isbister

Given the high rates of completed suicide and poor help-seeking among young men, this research explored how young men, who had successfully sought help from a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS), experienced help-seeking. The study focused on the factors that facilitated initial access and ongoing engagement in services. Eight young men between the ages of 16 to 18, who had entered CAMHS following self-harm or suicidal ideation, and who were engaged in ongoing therapy, were recruited. Each young man was interviewed to elicit his personal experiences of help-seeking and help-receiving. Interviews were transcribed and subjected to Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Four superordinate themes, which overarched participant’s individual experiences, emerged from the data: Role of external adult in recognizing, normalizing, and initiating help-seeking; challenging and renegotiating perception of need for help and meaning behind this need; maintaining an independent self; and mechanisms of engagement. Help-seeking was described as a journey of two stages: (a) initial access and (b) ongoing engagement, during which the presence and timing of external influences (parents, teachers) and internal influences (personal beliefs and attitudes) were crucial. A model of help-seeking in young men who self-harmed was developed, which considered both access and engagement to help, and combined a consideration of internal and external influences on their ability to access help.


2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 183-194 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin Hoadley ◽  
Freya Smith ◽  
Cecilia Wan ◽  
Adrian Falkov

Mental illness in children and young people is increasing in frequency and complexity, is emerging earlier and is persisting into adulthood. This is a global issue with implications for research, policy and practice. Children and young people require the experience of safe, nurturing relationships for optimal lifelong outcomes. Despite awareness of this in Child and Adolescent Mental Health services, a focus on the relational context in which children and young people present is not universal. A challenge in family focused practice is to ensure that no individual’s voice is ‘too loud’ and that children and young people’s voices are heard. This article illustrates how a balance between individual and systems understanding can be achieved in therapeutic work by incorporating the voices of children and young people and concerns of other family members. This article describes an approach to improving family focused practice in a public Child and Adolescent Mental Health service. Use of The Family Model, as a family focused practice tool, is presented across three service settings. The Family Model intervention is briefly described, outlining the way in which it supports collaborative practice and assists clinicians to achieve the balance described above. Vignettes will demonstrate how children and young people’s voices are explicitly incorporated in formulating mental health issues with two generations to generate developmentally informed care plans.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document