PHOTO: Nicole Juniper, a 19-year-old university student from Melbourne, began self-harming when she was 14. (ABC: Norman Hermant)
Negative and damaging responses from front-line medical staff are a major reason why Australian youth self-harm rates are at “unacceptable” levels, researchers say.
Key points:
- Orygen finds young people who self-harm still subject to stigma
- Says this makes many reluctant to seek follow-up help
- Researchers want better understanding of how social media can impact young people at risk of self-harm
A study published by Orygen, the national centre of excellence in youth mental health, found young people who self-harm continue to be subject to stigma from the wider community and health professionals.
The report quotes figures from previous research, which said one in 10 Australian adolescents had engaged in self-harming behaviour.
Other research mentioned in the report said one in five females aged between 16 and 17 had self-harmed.
“Often negative or trivialising responses come from the professionals in front-line services from whom young people, in their most vulnerable moments, are seeking compassionate and helpful responses,” the report said.
Dr Jo Robinson, the paper’s lead author, said some young people felt reluctant to seek follow-up treatment due to dismissiveness, trivialisation and scepticism from emergency staff.
“Young people told us some terrible stories about being stapled without anaesthetic by medical staff. That wouldn’t be acceptable in any other form of medicine so why is it seen to be ok here?” she said.
– Kristian Silva and Norman Hermant
Source: ‘Trivialising’ responses causing youth who self-harm to turn backs on medical help: study I ABC
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