Self-harm in young people: risk factors, assessment and treatment interventions
Intended for healthcare professionals
CPD    

Self-harm in young people: risk factors, assessment and treatment interventions

Gemma Philomena Trainor , Senior Lecturer, Mental Health Nursing, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, England

Why you should read this article
  • To recognise that self-harm in young people is common and increasing in prevalence

  • To increase your awareness of child-centred best practice approaches to caring for young people who self-harm

  • To count towards revalidation as part of your 35 hours of CPD, or you may wish to write a reflective account (UK readers)

  • To contribute towards your professional development and local registration renewal requirements (non-UK readers)

Self-harm, where an individual purposefully harms themselves with a non-fatal outcome, is common, especially among young people. A wide range of mental health issues are associated with self-harm and it increases the likelihood that the person will eventually die by suicide.

This article explores the motivations for self-harming behaviours, risk and protective factors, the components of risk assessment and potential interventions. Self-harm can be associated with stigma and discrimination in society and in healthcare services. This article aims to support healthcare practitioners in providing non-judgemental, empathetic and respectful care to these young people and their families and carers.

Nursing Children and Young People. doi: 10.7748/ncyp.2020.e1281

Peer review

This article has been subject to open peer review and has been checked for plagiarism using automated software

Correspondence

gemma.trainor@outlook.com

Conflict of interest

None declared

Trainor GP (2020) Self-harm in young people: risk factors, assessment and treatment interventions Nursing Children and Young People. doi: 10.7748/ncyp.2020.e1281

Thank you to Annette Dearmun, nurse adviser, Fullflight Ltd, for her support in preparing this article for publication

Published online: 16 November 2020

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