Looked-after children and self-harm

Trigger warningThis content discusses issues of self-harm, mental health and suicide. Please take the time to consider your own mental health, and seek support if you need it. In the UK, the Samaritans can be reached for free on 116 123.Welcome to Learn on the go, a Community Care Inform podcast where we discuss what the latest research, practice models and policy guidance mean to your practice.This episode is about looked-after children and self-harm. It covers what self-harm is, why looked-after children are more at risk of self-harming, and how social workers can support young people and carers. Discussing these questions are Judith Furnivall, lecturer and consultancy lead at the Centre for Excellence for Children’s Care and Protection at the University of Strathclyde, and Dr Eileen Harkness-Murphy, lecturer at the School of Health and Life Sciences in the University of the West of Scotland. The questions were asked by Ruth Hardy, content editor at Community Care Inform.2:34: What is self-harm and what behaviours can it include?7:30: Research suggests that about half of looked-after children meet the criteria for a mental health disorder, which is a much higher figure than the general population. Why is this?12:44: What are the risk factors for self-harm?22:59: How can social workers support young people waiting for a mental health referral?27:40: General good practice principles when working with young people who self-harm.This content covers some difficult and sensitive issues, so please take the time to consider your own mental health, and seek support if you need it. In the UK, the Samaritans can be reached for free on 116 123.ReferencesBeautrais, A L (2000)'Risk factors for suicide and attempted suicide among young people'Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, Volume 34, pp236–420Brophy, M; Holmstrom, R and Flynn, K (2006)Truth HurtsReport of the National Inquiry into Self-harm among Young PeopleCukrowicz, K; Wingate, L; Driscoll, K and Joiner, T (2004)'A standard of care for the assessment of suicide risk and associated treatment: The Florida State University Psychology Clinic as an example'Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy, Volume 34, pp87-100Hales, H; Davison, S; Misch, P and Taylor, P J (2003)'Young male prisoners in a young offenders’ institution: their contact with suicidal behaviour by others'Journal of Adolescence, Volume 26, pp667-685Harkess-Murphy, E (2011)'Self-harm and psychosocial risk characteristics : a study of three student cohorts within West Central Scotland'PhD Thesis, University of the West of ScotlandHarkness-Murphy, E; Macdonald, J and Ramsay, J (2013)'Self-harm and psychosocial characteristics of looked after and looked after and accommodated young people'Psychology, Health and Medicine, Volume 18, Issue 3, pp289-99Hasking, P; Momeni, R; Swannell, S and Chia, S (2008)'The Nature and Extent of Non-Suicidal Self-Injury in a Non-Clinical Sample of Young Adults'Archives of Suicide Research, Volume 12, pp208-218Hawton, K; Rodham, K; Evans, E and Weatherall, R (2002)'Deliberate self harm in adolescents: self report survey in schools in England'British Medical Journal, Volume 325, pp1207-1211House of Commons Education Committee (2016)Mental health and wellbeing of looked-after childrenLondon, House of CommonsMeltzer, H; Lader, D; Corbin, T; Goodman, R and Ford, T (2004)The mental health of young people looked after by local authorities in ScotlandEdinburgh: The Stationery OfficeMental Health Foundation (undated)The Truth About Self-harmLondon, Mental Health FoundationMind (2016)Understanding...