Nurses Attitudes to Self-Harm

Paper Summary:

The paper describes self-harm as a physical expression of emotional distress and highlights the need for a strong focus on psychological care for patients who self-harm. The paper explores self-harm triggers, looks at nurses' attitudes towards mental health patients and their needs and provides an understanding of the needs of patients. The paper then explores the attitude of health care workers towards young prison inmates who deliberately self harm. The paper concludes that more research is needed on self-harm prevention and on the practice of professionals working with people who deliberately self-harm.

Outline:
Introduction
Literature Review

From the Paper:

"Deliberate self-harm, (DSH) described as a behaviour not an illness (Isacsson and Rich, 2001, 213), is a complex issue with much debate surrounding its cause and treatment (McAllister, 2003, 177, Freeman, 2002, 10, Redley, 2003, 348). Deliberate self-harm is frequently encountered in emergency departments (ED) but is a hidden health problem world-wide. Approximately 4% of the population self-harms and it is one of the leading five causes of acute medical admission for women and men (Wilhelm, Schneiden, Kotze, 2000, 349). Nine out of ten people who self-harm seek help in emergency departments (Crawford, 1998, 18), so the role of emergency nurses is fundamental to ensuring that they receive timely and appropriate care. Research suggests that patients who present at assessment and emergency after self-harm incidents repeat the behaviour (Joiner, 2002, 33, Morgan and Coleman, 2000, 391)."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Agnew T (2005) Keeping an open mind on mental health. Emergency Nurse. 12, 9, 18-20.
• Allen J., Williamson S., Gatford C. et al. (1997) Deliberate self harm: developing clinical guidelines. Nursing Standard 12, 34-37.
• Anderson M., Standen P. & Noon J. (2003) Nurses' and Doctors' perceptions of young people who engage in suicidal behaviour: a contemporary grounded theory analysis. International Journal of Nursing Studies 40, 587-597.
• Anderson M.P. (1997) Nurses' attitudes towards suicidal behaviour - a comparative study of community mental health nurses and nurses working in an accidents and emergency department. Journal of Advanced Nursing 25, 1283-1291.
• Arnold L. (1995) Women and Self-injury - A Survey of 76 Women. Bristol Crisis Service for Women, Bristol.

More papers on Nurses Attitudes to Self-Harm:

• Term Paper # 146320 : "Self-Harm Behaviors in Adolescents"
• Research Paper # 102069 : "Adolescent Self-Harm"
• Research Paper # 105680 : "Self-Harm in Adolescent Females"

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