Citation

Cooper J, Husain N, Webb R, Waheed W, Kapur N, Guthrie E, Appleby L. Psychiatr. Danub. 2006; 18(Suppl 1): 130.

Affiliation

University of Manchester, Oxford Road, M13 9PL Manchester, United Kingdom. jayne.cooper@manchester.ac.uk.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, Facultas Universitatis Studiorum Zagrabiensis - Danube Symposion of Psychiatry)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

16964103

Abstract

Aims: To compare rates of self-harm, socio-demographic and clinical characteristics, provision of services and risk of repetition by ethnicity. Methods: A prospective cohort study of a consecutive sample of adult self-harm attendees (n=7185), aged 15 and over presenting to four emergency departments in the neighbouring cities of Manchester and Salford, UK between 1st September 1997 to 31st August 2001. Results: Young South Asian women were more likely to self-harm than Whites of the same age group. South Asian women were significantly more likely to report relationship problems within the family than White women. South Asians were less likely to be offered specialist mental health services and more likely to be referred back to the GP. South Asians were less likely to attend with a repeat episode. Conclusions: Young South Asian women are at high risk of self-harm but their clinical risk appears to be lower (in terms of known contextual factors contributing to risk). They are less likely to present with a repeat episode. Differences in treatment between South Asians and Whites may be a reflection of local service configuration but have major implications for intervention. Services for self-harm need to be culturally appropriate.

Language: en