“They have more than enough to do than patch up people like me.” Experiences of seeking support for self‐harm in lockdown during the COVID‐19 pandemic

Abstract

Accessible Summary What is known on the subject? In the initial months of the pandemic, there was no significant increase in demand for mental health services During the pandemic, there was an increase in people reporting an increase in suicidal thoughts. Understanding of the experience of seeking help for self‐harm during lockdown is lacking, in terms of availability and accessibility of support services What the paper adds to existing knowledge? People who self‐harm found that their support structures were significantly impacted by lockdown Lockdown presented relational difficulties for people who self‐harm What are the implications for practice? Learning about the experience of receiving support from mental health liaison services during lockdown from a first‐hand perspective is essential to improving the provision of these services in the future. In times of national crisis, services should be prepared to support clients via alternative means including telephone and online. Public facing messages about service availability should be carefully expressed to minimize misunderstandings. Abstract Introduction National lockdown caused disruption to health services and third‐sector organizations offering support to people who self‐harm. Early reports suggested self‐harm‐related hospital attendances declined. Lack of knowledge related to the availability and accessibility of support provisions for people who self‐harm warrants exploration into how they experienced help‐seeking during lockdown. Aims This study aimed to explore the experiences of people who self‐harm and perspectives on help‐seeking. Method We conducted a qualitative study based on telephone and email interviews with 14 people who self‐harm in England. Results Participants identified challenges to coping with life in lockdown, emphasizing the role of self‐harm. Help‐seeking was impeded by feeling like a burden and potential for spreading the virus. People who self‐harm exercised self‐reliance in response to “stay home” messaging, but some may have struggled without formal support. Online support served an important role in continuity of care during lockdown but could widen inequalities from limited resources and access. Implications for practice Helping mental health liaison nurses to understand the experiences of people who self‐harm during lockdown is critical to providing continuing support to this population. Services should consider how and when they communicate changes to their provisions to the public, and the impact this will have on those in need of support.

Self-harm in Young People: Investigating the Role of Resilience and Posttraumatic Stress Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Given the impact of the pandemic on youth mental health, it is not surprising that levels of self-harm appear somewhat elevated when compared to pre-pandemic levels. While young people of the present sample may have engaged in self-harm before the COVID-19 outbreak, detected levels in this study may appear elevated because mental health services were significantly interrupted by prolonged lockdowns, which have been a barrier for seeking help (Sass et al, 2022). Thus, young people who could not access their standard level of care and support may engaged more frequently in self-harm.…”

“…However, the true rates of self-harm maybe even higher. This realisation becomes increasingly important especially considering that during the first months of the pandemic the strict lockdown measures have disrupted mental health services and supports, which in turn imposed barriers for those who self-harm to access help (Sass et al, 2022). These lockdown measures may have masked the true mental health burden in young people during the pandemic (Kaess, 2022).…”

Help-seeking needs related to suicide prevention for individuals in contact with mental health services: A rapid scoping review

“…These studies nonetheless provide valuable evidence relevant to the findings of this review. It was found that individuals presented to the emergency department less frequently during the pandemic for suicide ideation (Sass et al, 2022;Sveticic et al, 2021). Participants described feeling like a burden to others due to an awareness of all healthcare services struggling under the pressure of COVID-19 (Sass et al, 2022).…”

“…It was found that individuals presented to the emergency department less frequently during the pandemic for suicide ideation (Sass et al, 2022;Sveticic et al, 2021). Participants described feeling like a burden to others due to an awareness of all healthcare services struggling under the pressure of COVID-19 (Sass et al, 2022). Digital tools can serve as a valuable tool to address the helpseeking needs of individuals, particularly those who are hesitant to visit hospitals, especially amidst pandemic situations and where there are concerns about being judged.…”