Citation

Aggarwal S, Armstrong G. Int. J. Soc. Psychiatry 2023; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2023, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/00207640231174368

PMID

37162034

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) account for 78% of global suicides. Self-harm is the clearest antecedent of suicide. The health and social systems have struggled to provide adequate evidence based help to young people with self-harm. In addition, the negative attitudes towards those who self-harm in these settings interfere with help-seeking behaviour. AIMS AND METHOD: In our submission of a comment, we discuss the reasons for thinking beyond healthcare systems in LMICs to address self-harm in youth and the possible ways to achieve it.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: We truly believe that harnessing the potential of social systems such as schools is important for addressing self-harm in LMICs. We present our arguments in favour of feasible measures that can be implemented to achieve this.

Language: en

Keywords

youth; Self-harm; low- and middle-income countries; systems