title: GPs role identifying young people who self-harm: a mixed methods study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Self-harm is common among young people and is evident in increasingly younger age groups. Many young people who self-harm do visit their GP but do not access specialist support. GP's can find it challenging to raise and discuss this sensitive subject with young people during short consultations.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore GP's capabilities, motivations and opportunities for discussing self-harm and to identify barriers to and enablers for proactively discussing self-harm with young people.
  
  
  METHODS
  An exploratory, mixed methods study was designed comprising an online survey and a qualitative interview study with GPs in the South West of England.
  
  
  METHODS
  An online survey was completed by 28 GPs. Ten GPs took part by telephone, in semi-structured interviews. Quantitative data was analysed using descriptive statistical techniques and thematic analysis was used to analyse the qualitative data. Findings from the quantitative and qualitative analysis are synthesized to illustrate GPs' skills, knowledge and perceptions about young people who self-harm.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Experienced GPs may underestimate the prevalence of self-harm in young people, particularly in the 11-14 age range. While consultations with young people and their carers can be challenging, GPs acknowledge that it is their role to provide support for young people who self-harm. GPs would welcome training for themselves and other practice staff in talking to young people and practical information about self-harm.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All primary care staff who provide frontline support to young people should receive education and practical training in talking about self-harm.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, University of Bath, Bath, UK. and Collaborations for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care (NIHR CLAHRC West), University Hospital Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, UK. f.fox@bristol.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fox
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, University of Bath, Bath, UK. and Collaborations for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care (NIHR CLAHRC West), University Hospital Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stallard
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, University of Bath, Bath, UK. and Collaborations for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care (NIHR CLAHRC West), University Hospital Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: Geraldine
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cooney
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017028:Caregivers / Q000193:education*; D002648:Child; D003142:Communication; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D058005:General Practitioners / Q000193:education*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011320:Primary Health Care; D036301:Qualitative Research; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Adolescent; education; general practice; identification; self-injurious behaviour.