Agnes Ayton1, Hufrize Rasool, David Cottrell. 1. West End Child and Family Service, 2062-68 Hessle Road, Hessle HU13 9NW, North Humberside, UK. A.K.Ayton@hull.ac.uk
Abstract
BACKGROUND: It has been demonstrated that adult suicidal behaviour is associated with unemployment and social deprivation. The association between self-harm and social deprivation in young people is less clear. AIMS: To examine the relationship between social deprivation and deliberate self-harm in children and adolescents in an UK district. METHOD: Computer records of patients under 18 years of age presenting with self-harm at the district casualty department were analysed in Hull and East Yorkshire. The relationship with social deprivation was examined using Townsend scores. RESULTS: 730 young people presented with self-harm during a period of two years. Socio-economic deprivation was associated with overdose, self-injury, and poisoning by illicit substances. After controlling for the proportion of single parent households, moving households with children, and adult long-term sickness in each ward, partial correlations remained significant between overdose, self-injury, and Townsend scores. CONCLUSIONS: The results highlight the importance of socio-economic deprivation in the aetiology of deliberate self-harm in young people. Primary and secondary prevention programs cannot be successful without taking this into consideration.
BACKGROUND: It has been demonstrated that adult suicidal behaviour is associated with unemployment and social deprivation. The association between self-harm and social deprivation in young people is less clear. AIMS: To examine the relationship between social deprivation and deliberate self-harm in children and adolescents in an UK district. METHOD: Computer records of patients under 18 years of age presenting with self-harm at the district casualty department were analysed in Hull and East Yorkshire. The relationship with social deprivation was examined using Townsend scores. RESULTS: 730 young people presented with self-harm during a period of two years. Socio-economic deprivation was associated with overdose, self-injury, and poisoning by illicit substances. After controlling for the proportion of single parent households, moving households with children, and adult long-term sickness in each ward, partial correlations remained significant between overdose, self-injury, and Townsend scores. CONCLUSIONS: The results highlight the importance of socio-economic deprivation in the aetiology of deliberate self-harm in young people. Primary and secondary prevention programs cannot be successful without taking this into consideration.
Authors: Gisleine V S Freitas; Carlos F S Cais; Sabrina Stefanello; Neury J Botega Journal: Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry Date: 2008-04-21 Impact factor: 4.785
Authors: Wilfred Hing-Sang Wong; James Chun-Yin Lee; Frederick Ka-Wing Ho; Tim Man-Ho Li; Patrick Ip; Chun-Bong Chow Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2017-06-09 Impact factor: 3.390