Understanding Gender Differences in Self-Harm in Young People
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Understanding gender differences in young people’s experience of self-harm, in order to influence gender-sensitive change in our mental health services
IRAS ID
315936
Contact name
Emma Diggins
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Leeds Institute of University of LeedsHealth Science, University of Leeds
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
This study forms part of a wider piece of work which aims to improve our understanding of gender differences in young people’s experience of self-harm, in order to influence gender-sensitive change in our mental health services.
Background:
Self-harm involves a person causing an injury to themselves, whether or not they wanted to die. It is not an illness, but a behaviour that tells us that someone is struggling. In younger teenagers, self-harm is much commoner in girls. As people get older this changes so that there are roughly equal numbers of adult men and women who self-harm. In recent years, episodes of self-harm in young girls have increased far more than in boys. This research project aims to explore if boys and girls have different reasons for self-harm and different experiences of treatment. We hope this will help us develop better, more gender-sensitive services and treatments in the future.Design and Methods:
Interviews will be carried out with young people, using pictures and other creative methods. Interviews will takes place at 2-3 different times over the course of 18 months. Participants are asked to choose or create images to help explain their experiences of self-harm. The images act as a starting point for discussion around what self-harm means to them personally and their experiences of treatment. These interviews will then be analysed to find similarities and differences between boys and girls.Outcomes and Dissemination:
The outcomes of this part of the study will include a better understanding of how boys and girls differ in their experiences of and reasons for self-harm. In planned future work, research findings from this study will be used to improve child and adolescent mental health services to better meet the needs of boys and girls. This future work will be subject to its own ethical and HRA Approval.REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Leeds West Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/YH/0168
Date of REC Opinion
17 Aug 2023
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion