Pathways to Care and Help-Seeking Experience Prior to Self-Harm (original) (raw)
2012, Journal of Nursing Research
Background: Help-seeking behavior may protect people from harming themselves. However, few studies have discussed how and why people access lay or professional help prior to self-harm. Purpose: This study explored the subjective experiences of individuals with deliberate self-harm in terms of help-seeking behavior and medical care pathways. Methods: Researchers performed qualitative in-depth interviews and content analysis and used a sampling grid to recruit participants. Twenty emergency attendees between the ages of 18Y55 years were interviewed on their help-seeking pathways and experiences using a standardized topic guide. Results: Participants identified friends, family members, healthcare personnel, and their own initiative as the primary medical care pathways. Analysis showed help-seeking experiences significantly related to the physicianYpatient relationship, social support, and treatment adherence. These factors were also identified as prominent themes related to medical help-seeking behavior. Conclusions: Supportive attitudes and continuous care from formal and informal sources of help may facilitate help-seeking behavior, whereas negative influences from close friends or relatives may trigger a self-harm episode. Medication stockpiling and the negative aspects of close relationships should be addressed and minimized to raise the effectiveness of selfharm or suicide prevention efforts.
Loading Preview
Sorry, preview is currently unavailable. You can download the paper by clicking the button above.