Young people’s experiences of a targeted community intervention for self-harm

Deliberate self-harm is a major public health concern, mostly emerging in adolescence and is associated with future suicidal ideation. Most studies relating to interventions involve clinical samples and as such less is known about the effectiveness of community delivered interventions. The present study is a qualitative evaluation of a school-based targeted intervention aimed at reducing stigma around self-harm. Two focus groups were conducted with 11 participants, with data analyzed using a framework analysis approach. Young people reported several positive aspects of the service; enjoying the relaxed atmosphere, the lack of pressure to share personal information and the variety of available resources. However, the targeted approach of the intervention led to some stigma from peers. Furthermore, there is a provision gap when the time limited service ends, risking relapse. This suggests a need for more effective signposting once a service comes to an end.