How Individuals Who Self-Harm Manage Their Own Risk—'I Cope Because I Self-Harm, and I Can Cope with my Self-Harm'. Issue 5 (October 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Woodley, Samantha; Hodge, Suzanne; Jones, Kerri; Holding, Andrew
• Is Part Of: Psychological reports. Volume 124:Issue 5(2021)
• Page Start: 1998
• Page End: 2017
• Publication Date: 2021-10
• Subjects: Self-harm -- self-hurting -- risk management -- service user -- qualitative; Psychology -- Periodicals; Psychiatry; Psychology; Psychologie -- Périodiques; Psychology; 150.5
• DOI: 10.1177/0033294120945178
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0033-2941

Abstract

Self-harm is a complex and idiosyncratic behaviour. This article focuses on how those who self-harm manage their own risk. Utilising opportunity sampling, ten members of a self-harm support group were interviewed about how they risk manage their self-harm and the data analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. The analysis showed that all participants were actively involved in risk management of their self-harm. Through a process of managing consequences, exercising control in the process, and an awareness of the social context. It is posited that people who self-harm should be viewed as actively engaging with the risks of self-harm whilst it is a coping mechanism, as opposed to passive or ignoring. This understanding can be integrated into current risk management plans within services and invites a more dynamic conversation of self-harm between services users and services. Effective risk management involves good relationships between individuals who self-harm and clinicians, services which promote positive risk taking as opposed to defensive practice, and true collaboration between services and service users.