Abstract

Objective

Self-harm is a common phenomenon amongst young people, often used to regulate emotional distress. Over the last decade harm reduction approaches to self-harm have been introduced as a means to minimize risk and reinforce alternative coping strategies. However, there is a stark absence of research into the perceived usefulness of such techniques amongst adolescents, and previous studies have highlighted ethical concerns about advocating ‘safer’ forms of self-harm. This study aimed to investigate the perceived usefulness of harm reduction techniques for adolescents who self-harm.

Method

We purposively recruited current clients of a British early intervention program supporting young people in managing self-harm. We conducted semi-structured interviews and analyzed transcripts using thematic analysis.

Results

Eleven interviews with service users aged 14–15 years identified three main themes: (1) Controlling the uncontrollable; (2) Barriers to practising safer self-harm; and (3) Developing a broad repertoire of harm reduction techniques. Participants expressed mixed views regarding the usefulness of such approaches. Some described greater competence and empowerment in self-harm management, whilst others described the utility of harm reduction methods as either short-lived or situation-specific, with the potential for misuse of anatomical knowledge to cause further harm to high-risk adolescents.

Conclusion

The findings from our sample suggest harm reduction techniques have a place in self-harm management for some individuals, but their usage should be monitored and offered alongside alternative strategies and therapeutic support. Our study highlights the need for further research on who would benefit from these techniques and how they can be implemented successfully.

1. HIGHLIGHTS

2. Harm reduction can help people who self–harm manage distress and maintain autonomy

3. People who self-harm have a broad repertoire of harm reduction techniques

4. Harm reduction can help reduce long-term damage and frequency of self-harm

中文翻译：

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年轻人对减少伤害技术在自我伤害管理中作用的看法：一项定性研究

摘要

客观的

自残是年轻人的普遍现象，常用于调节情绪困扰。在过去的十年中，人们引入了减少自伤的方法，作为将风险降至最低和加强替代应对策略的一种手段。然而，对于这种技术在青少年中的感知有用性的研究完全缺乏，以前的研究强调了关于提倡“更安全”的自我伤害形式的伦理问题。本研究旨在调查减少伤害技术对自残青少年的感知有用性。

方法

我们特意招募了英国早期干预计划的现有客户，该计划支持年轻人管理自残。我们进行了半结构化访谈，并使用主题分析分析了成绩单。

结果

对 14-15 岁服务用户的 11 次访谈确定了三个主题：（1）控制不可控；(2) 进行更安全的自残行为的障碍；(3) 开发广泛的减害技术。与会者对这些方法的有用性表达了不同的看法。一些人描述了自我伤害管理方面的更大能力和授权，而另一些人则将减少伤害方法的效用描述为短期或特定情况，有可能滥用解剖知识对高危青少年造成进一步伤害。

结论

我们样本的结果表明，减少伤害技术在某些人的自我伤害管理中占有一席之地，但应监测其使用情况，并与替代策略和治疗支持一起提供。我们的研究强调需要进一步研究谁将从这些技术中受益以及如何成功实施这些技术。

1. 强调

2. 减少伤害可以帮助自伤者管理痛苦并保持自主权

3. 自我伤害的人拥有广泛的减少伤害技术

4. 减少伤害有助于减少长期伤害和自伤频率