Citation

McAndrew S, Warne T. Int. J. Ment. Health Nurs. 2005; 14(3): 172-180.

Affiliation

School of Healthcare, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK. s.l.mcandrew@leeds.ac.uk

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, Australian College of Mental Health Nurses Inc., Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1440-0979.2005.00378.x

PMID

16181154

Abstract

Deliberate self-harm predominantly occurs in women under the age of 30 years. This qualitative case study using feminist methods explored the experiences of three women who each had a long history of self-harming behaviour. Psychoanalytical concepts are used to explore the meaning of the conflicts that these women experience. Emergent themes include: great expectations, I speak but no one hears, sexual naivety meets sexual violence, and redrawing the sexual map. This thematic analysis helps facilitate an insight into what these women are trying to communicate, and provides guidance for mental health professionals to more effectively respond to the challenges of working with women who self-harm.

Language: en