A Qualitative Account of Young People’s Experiences Seeking Care from Emergency Departments for Self-Harm

Sadhbh J. Byrne, India Bellairs-Walsh, Simon M. Rice, Sarah Bendall, Michelle Lamblin, Emily Boubis, Brianna McGregor, Meghan O’Keefe and Jo Robinson
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Sadhbh J. Byrne: Orygen, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
India Bellairs-Walsh: Orygen, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
Simon M. Rice: Orygen, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
Sarah Bendall: Orygen, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
Michelle Lamblin: Orygen, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
Emily Boubis: Orygen, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
Brianna McGregor: Orygen, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
Meghan O’Keefe: Orygen, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
Jo Robinson: Orygen, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 6, 1-17

Abstract: Many young people who engage in self-harm do not seek help from health services. For those that do, emergency departments (EDs) are a key point of contact. Substantial gaps remain in current knowledge related to young consumers’ experiences and views on optimal treatment of self-harm in the ED. In this study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with thirteen young people ( M age = 21.2 years), who were engaged with care at headspace early intervention centers and had presented to an ED with a self-inflicted physical injury. Participants were asked to describe their experience in the ED and the care they received. Data were analyzed thematically. Three inter-related themes were identified: 1. The ED was experienced through a lens of significant distress, 2. The ED environment and processes were counter-therapeutic, and 3. Staff were perceived to be disinterested, dismissive, and lacking in knowledge. The study highlights the overwhelmingly negative nature of participants’ experiences, and presents recommendations for service and practice improvements, such as the provision of staff training and increased aftercare.

Keywords: self-harm; emergency departments; young people; qualitative (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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