Citation

Frost M, Casey L. Arch. Suicide Res. 2015; 20(1): 69-79.

Affiliation

a Griffith University, School of Applied Psychology , Mt Gravatt , Brisbane , Australia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, International Academy of Suicide Research, Publisher Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/13811118.2015.1004470

PMID

25706352

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To identify differences between young people who seek help online for self-injury and those who self-injure but do not seek help online, in order to improve online services for young people at high risk of suicide.

METHODS: Young people reporting a history of self-injury (N = 679) were identified as part of large study (N = 1463) exploring help-seeking.

RESULTS: One third of young people with a history of self-injury reported online help-seeking for self-injury. Online help-seekers were significantly more distressed, suicidal and had a greater degree of self-injury compared to those who did not seek help online.

CONCLUSION: The Internet provides an important form of support to the most at risk young people in this population, and may be a proximal step to face-to-face help-seeking. Further research is required to investigate the forms of support currently accessed by young people online, and their effectiveness.

Language: en