TY - JOUR

T1 - Primary school children and self harm

T2 - the emotional impact upon education professionals, and their understandings of why children self harm and how this is managed

AU - Simm, Rebecca

AU - Roen, Katrina

AU - Daiches, Anna

PY - 2010

Y1 - 2010

N2 - There is evidence suggesting that self harm among young people is beginning earlier, in childhood and adolescent years. This paper reports on a qualitative study of primary school staff responses to self harm among children. Some studies with adolescents show self harm presents challenges to education professionals who may lack training or resources to address this issue, yet research concerning self harm among primary school children is limited. The present study provides an analysis of education professionals’ experiences and understandings of self harm in primary school children. Interviews with 15 staff members from six schools in the North of England were analysed using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis. Key themes discussed concern: how self harm affects staff emotionally; reasons staff ascribe to children’s self harming; how self harm is managed. The present study indicates problems associated with a ‘fire‐fighting’ approach where self harm is only dealt with as it becomes visible. Instead, the authors advocate policy‐level initiatives proactively addressing self harm, as has happened in sex and drug education. Intervention around self harm in schools could usefully broaden staff members’ understandings of self harm, allow opportunity for reflection and discussion, and make resources available to staff working with children who self harm.

AB - There is evidence suggesting that self harm among young people is beginning earlier, in childhood and adolescent years. This paper reports on a qualitative study of primary school staff responses to self harm among children. Some studies with adolescents show self harm presents challenges to education professionals who may lack training or resources to address this issue, yet research concerning self harm among primary school children is limited. The present study provides an analysis of education professionals’ experiences and understandings of self harm in primary school children. Interviews with 15 staff members from six schools in the North of England were analysed using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis. Key themes discussed concern: how self harm affects staff emotionally; reasons staff ascribe to children’s self harming; how self harm is managed. The present study indicates problems associated with a ‘fire‐fighting’ approach where self harm is only dealt with as it becomes visible. Instead, the authors advocate policy‐level initiatives proactively addressing self harm, as has happened in sex and drug education. Intervention around self harm in schools could usefully broaden staff members’ understandings of self harm, allow opportunity for reflection and discussion, and make resources available to staff working with children who self harm.

KW - self harm

KW - qualitative

KW - primary school

KW - children

U2 - 10.1080/03054985.2010.501139

DO - 10.1080/03054985.2010.501139

M3 - Journal article

VL - 36

SP - 677

EP - 692

JO - Oxford Review of Education

JF - Oxford Review of Education

SN - 0305-4985

IS - 6

ER -