Study of Self-Harm in Adolescence
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Risk Factors for Self-Harm: Narratives from a sample of Young People In Northern Ireland
IRAS ID
235101
Contact name
Johanna O'Shea
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Ulster University
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
NA, NA
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 7 months, 30 days
Research summary
The aim of this research is to develop a better understanding of what influences young people to self-harm. Self-harm is characterised by acts of intentional self-poisoning (overdose) or by self-injury (skin-cutting) but which do not have a fatal outcome.
The researcher spent a year completing a systematic review of the current literature. This outlined that self-harm within adolescence is a globally recognised public health and social problem which in Northern Ireland appears to be escalating. Three key risk factors were identified, namely, "difficulties in support networks", "exposure to self-harm behaviour" and "psychological factors",. Previous research in this field was undertaken using questionnaires, adult samples and psychiatric inpatient samples with little emphasis on the voice of young people, (McAndrew and Warne 2014).
Given the lack of credence in current literature, this research hopes to empower and capture the views of young people 16-18 years within the South Eastern Trust in Northern Ireland. The voice of children capable of expressing their views is enshrined in The Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 and similarly the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Article 12) outlines that children capable of forming their own views must be given the right to express them. My objectives are:-
1. To explore young people's views on the onset of self-harm behaviour
2. To identify why young people engage in repeated incidents of self-harm behaviour
3. To explore what influences young people to stop or attempt to stop self-harming
4. To provide practitioners with insightful information that will support them with their direct work with young people.A maximum of 16 young people across genders will be asked to meet with the researcher in a safe environment to participate in 1-1 semi-structured interview for approximately 30-60 minutes (depending on the level of contribution they wish to make).
REC name
HSC REC B
REC reference
18/NI/0034
Date of REC Opinion
4 Apr 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion