Abstract
BackgroundSelf-harm in young people is a growing public health concern. Young people commonly present to their GP for help with self-harm, and thus general practice may be a key setting to support young people who have self-harmed.AimTo examine the potential of general practice to support young people aged 10–25 years who have harmed themselves.Design & settingA narrative review of published and grey literature.MethodThe Scale for the Assessment of Narrative Review Articles (SANRA) was used to guide a narrative review to examine the potential of general practice to support young people who have self-harmed. The evidence is presented textually.ResultsThe included evidence showed that GPs have a key role in supporting young people, and they sometimes relied on gut feeling when handling uncertainty on how to help young people who had self-harmed. Young people described the importance of initial clinician responses after disclosing self-harm, and if they were perceived to be negative, the self-harm could become worse.ConclusionIn context of the evidence included, this review found that general practice is a key setting for the identification and management of self-harm in young people; but improvements are needed to enhance general practice care for young people to fulfil its potential.
Highlights
IntroductionIn the UK, young people who self-harm seek help most often (25%) through general practice.[7] In adolescents aged 12–17 years in England, self-p oisoning is the most common form of self-h arm (71%) presenting to hospital, and in the community self-c utting is predominant (89%).[8] Rates of self- harm observed in young people’s general practice records have increased over recent years, with the peak occurrence of overdose on anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, and opioid medications in young people to be 16–18 years in females, and 19–24 years in males.[9]
Self-harm is a public health priority and is the strongest risk factor for suicide.[1]
The included evidence showed that GPs have a key role in supporting young people, and they sometimes relied on gut feeling when handling uncertainty on how to help young people who had self-harmed
Summary
In the UK, young people who self-harm seek help most often (25%) through general practice.[7] In adolescents aged 12–17 years in England, self-p oisoning is the most common form of self-h arm (71%) presenting to hospital, and in the community self-c utting is predominant (89%).[8] Rates of self- harm observed in young people’s general practice records have increased over recent years, with the peak occurrence of overdose on anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, and opioid medications in young people to be 16–18 years in females, and 19–24 years in males.[9]. Young people commonly present to their GP for help with self-harm, and general practice may be a key setting to support young people who have self-h armed
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