Title:
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A psychosocial study into the school experience of adolescents who have self-harmed
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This study aimed to find out about the school experiences of adolescents who
have self-harmed and consider how school could support them, taking an
exploratory and emancipatory approach. Five young people (four female; one
male) aged between 15 and 17 years old were recruited to the study from a
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) in an outer London
borough, all undergoing treatment related to self-harm. They all had above
80% school attendance in the six months prior to joining the study and no
Statement of Special Educational Need.
A qualitative methodology was used taking a psychosocial approach. Semi-structured
interviews were carried out using Free-Association Narrative
Interview (FANI) method (Hollway & Jefferson, 2000). Each participant was
interviewed on two separate occasions with a gap of between one and three
weeks. Interview transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis assisted
by the computer software MAX-QDA version 11.01. Researcher fieldnotes
were also analysed as a source of data. Initial codes were allocated to data
extracts and clustered into themes. Three main themes emerged from the
data: Pursuing the Narrative of Identity; Pain and the Mind-Body Dichotomy
and Relationship to Help. Implications for school staff as well as educational
psychologists and other professionals include the importance of the presence
of an attuned and understanding adult. Finally, school systems that respond
to disclosures, offer support structures and raise awareness should be
developed based on increased understanding of the phenomenon of self-harm
in the adolescent group.
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