‘We need much more support for youngsters who self-harm’

Education reporter Kathie Mcinnes discusses a Keele University-led report about self-harm incidences among people who are aged 12-25

RESEARCHERS are calling for more support to help families of young people who self-harm.

Keele University led the study, which looked at the experiences and needs of those close to people aged between 12 and 25 who harm themselves.

They found families’ needs can often be overlooked and more help should be given to help with the impact on their own mental health and relationships. One mother said she had become more of a therapist to her daughter.

Others felt guilty as they thought they had failed as parents. There were also reports of sleeplessness, depression and anxiety among loved ones of those who had selfharmed.

As many as 26 per cent of young people have harmed themselves at some point, according to researchers.

The Keele study – the first of its kind – was supported by the NIHR School for Primary Care Research and also involved University College Cork and the universities of Oxford and Nottingham. It saw them review 22 papers published between 2002 and 2021. Their findings were shared in The Lancet’s eclinicalmedicine.

Lead author Dr Faraz Mughal, below, a GP and NIHR doctoral fellow from Keele University, said: “Parents and friends described how self-harm affected their self-identity and that this strengthened or weakened relationships.

“A key theme generated was on parents and families attempting to manage self-harm through seeking help, leaning on therapies, peer support and schools.

“It illustrated an unmet need for accessible information to assist them in their role as supporting individuals.”

The academics have drawn up seven recommendations for policy change, including more support from healthcare professionals and other services.

They want to see better communication and information for families.