Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41347549›Full record

ArticleInternational journal of qualitative studies on health and well-being2025

How can school staff respond to student incidents of self-injurious thoughts and behaviours? A systematic scoping review.

Lauren McGillivray, Annabelle Hudson, Rachel Baffsky, Bridianne O'Dea, Michelle Torok

Abstract readScoping Review
In one paragraph

Article in International journal of qualitative studies on health and well-being, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
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

5 authors.

Lauren McGillivrayBlack Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.ORCID 0000-0001-9022-0274
Annabelle HudsonBlack Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
Rachel BaffskyBlack Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
Bridianne O'DeaCollege of Education, Psychology and Social Work, Flinders University, Bedford Park, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-1731-210X
Michelle TorokBlack Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-3741-8075

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeSelf-harm risk is highest between ages 12-19, making it essential for schools to have clear, evidence-based practices for identifying and responding to self-injurious thoughts and behaviours (SITBs). This scoping review summarises best-practice responses in primary and high school settings, focusing on non-clinical staff. It provides a foundation for developing consistent, evidence-based whole-school guidelines.

methodsPubMed, CINAHL and Embase were systematically searched (1 January 2000-31 March 2024) for English-language, peer-reviewed studies examining school staff responses to student SITBs. Studies reporting only prevalence or trends were excluded. Final studies were selected through a blinded, multistage screening process by paired reviewers. Data were analysed using narrative synthesis.

resultsForty-one articles met inclusion criteria. Most were published after 2005, conducted in the USA (n = 17), used qualitative designs (n = 15), involved mixed school staff (n = 14) and were based in high schools (n = 23). Overall study quality was fair to low. Findings indicated that effective school responses rely on whole-school approaches, strong leadership support, clearly defined roles and procedures, crisis response teams, and regular staff training.

conclusionsDespite gaps in the evidence, this review consolidates current best practice and can inform future guidelines to strengthen school staff capacity and confidence in supporting students experiencing SITBs.

Indexed as

School Health ServicesSchoolsSelf-Injurious BehaviorStudentsAdolescentChildHumansEducationguidelinesself-harmsuicideyoung people

Identifiers

PMID41347549
PMCPMC12683774

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
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Registered trials

None linked

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.