Engagement with young people who self-harm

Only a small proportion of young people who have deliberately self-harmed attend follow-up appointments and the precise reasons for this non-attendance are unknown. This article discusses the results of a small qualitative study in which three young people and their families were asked to share their thoughts and experiences about the treatment they had received and their reasons for keeping follow-up appointments. The interviewees identified that their need for help and a greater understanding of their problems improved their attendance at follow up.