title: Self-Injury, Help-Seeking, and the Internet: Informing Online Service Provision for Young People.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although increasing numbers of young people are seeking help online for self-injury, relatively little is known about their online help-seeking preferences.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the perspectives of young people who self-injure regarding online services, with the aim of informing online service delivery.
  
  
  METHODS
  A mixed-methods exploratory analysis regarding the perspectives of a subsample of young people who reported a history of self-injury and responded to questions regarding preferences for future online help-seeking (N = 457). The sample was identified as part of a larger study (N = 1,463) exploring self-injury and help-seeking.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven themes emerged in relation to preferences for future online help-seeking: information, guidance, reduced isolation, online culture, facilitation of help-seeking, access, and privacy. Direct contact with a professional via instant messaging was the most highly endorsed form of online support.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Young people expressed clear preferences regarding online services for self-injury, supporting the importance of consumer consultation in development of online services.
authors.affiliation: 1 School of Applied Psychology, Mt. Gravatt Campus, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Mareka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Frost
authors.affiliation: 1 School of Applied Psychology, Mt. Gravatt Campus, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.|2 Menzies Health Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Leanne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Casey
authors.affiliation: 1 School of Applied Psychology, Mt. Gravatt Campus, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rando
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D003219:Confidentiality; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D000066505:Help-Seeking Behavior; D006801:Humans; D057226:Information Seeking Behavior; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D057240:Patient Preference; D036301:Qualitative Research; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012934:Social Isolation; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted; D055815:Young Adult; D000092864:Suicide Prevention
keywords: Internet; consumer participation; deliberate self-harm; eHealth; self-injury