BACKGROUND: Previous research has suggested that Asian adolescents are not more likely than their white peers to attempt self-harm although different social factors contributing to self-harm in these groups have been reported.
METHOD: Over a three year period all cases of Asian descent and white ethnicity who presented to a Childrens and Adolescents Assessment Unit with deliberate self-harm were identified from the case notes. Details of the attempt and circumstances surrounding the attempt were obtained.
RESULTS: A total of 99 cases were identified of Which 76 were white and 23 Asians. A significant number of the adolescents in both groups were aged 14 or over and females were much more likely to attempt suicide compared to males. In 43 cases the attempt was impulsive (35 whites and 8 Asians) and 29 cases (30%) had a past history of deliberate self-ham. The commonest mode was taking an overdose (90 cases, 67 whites and 23 Asians). Paracetamol alone or in combinations was the commonest drug used (in 44 cases, 35 whites and 9 Asians). In 32 cases (25 whites, 7 Asians) arguments with parents or siblings were the precipitating factor and problems at school were reported by 18 individuals. Bullying at school was identified by 16 individuals (11 whites and 5 Asians) as a key factor leading to overdose. Sexual or physical abuse was reported by 22 whites (29%) and 10 Asians (43%).
CONCLUSIONS: Asian adolescents are no more likely to take overdoses but the role of sexual and physical abuse needs to be studied further.
Language: en
Keywords
adolescent; article; Asian; automutilation; battering; Caucasian; child behavior; child parent relation; child sexual abuse; Cultural Psychiatry; drug overdose; Ethnic; ethnic group; female; gender; human; major clinical study; male; paracetamol; risk factor; school; school child; Self-harm; sex difference; sibling; social aspect; Suicide