Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40389948›Full record

ArticleBMC public health2025

"Thrown in the deep end": a qualitative study of barriers secondary school staff encounter when addressing self-harm.

Hay Wing Charlotte Chan, Tamsin Ford, Astrid Janssens, Joanna Anderson, Jeff Gavin, Abigail E Russell

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Hay Wing Charlotte ChanUniversity of Bath, Bath, UK.
Tamsin FordDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
Astrid JanssensJulius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, the Netherlands, Utrecht, Netherlands.
Joanna AndersonDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
Jeff GavinDepartment of Psychology, University of Bath, Bath, UK.
Abigail E RussellDepartment of Public Health and Sports Sciences, Child and Adolescent Mental Health and NIHR Advanced Fellow, ChYMe, University of Exeter Medical School, South Cloisters, St Luke's Campus, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK. A.E.Russell@exeter.ac.uk.

Funding

National Institute for Health Research NIHR NIHR300591
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSelf-harm is highly prevalent among young people yet remains misunderstood and stigmatised in schools and among pupils. Schools are positioned to first detect self-harm but are ill-equipped to respond or support. Despite these concerns, studies exploring the management of self-harm in schools from staff perspectives are limited.

methodsTherefore, the current study explored experiences of secondary school staff when addressing self-harm in schools through a Thematic Analysis of semi-structured focus groups.

resultsAnalysis revealed an overarching theme-addressing self-harm in schools is a systemic issue that requires governmental, institutional, and interpersonal support. Two main themes and five subthemes were identified within this overarching theme.

conclusionsLack of standardised guidelines and stigmatisation around self-harm are key barriers that prevent staff from effectively addressing self-harm. Training is crucial for school staff to respond safely to self-harm and avoid fearful or avoidant responses, alongside increased access to clinically trained professionals. These findings are discussed in relation to school-based interventions targeted towards self-harm.

Indexed as

School Health ServicesSchoolsSelf-Injurious BehaviorAdolescentFemaleFocus GroupsHumansMaleQualitative ResearchBarriersQualitativeSchoolsSelf-harmSupport

Identifiers

PMID40389948
PMCPMC12087240

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.