Journal article
Self-harm among young people detained in the youth justice system in Sri Lanka
LV Hettiarachchi, SA Kinner, H Tibble, R Borschmann
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health | MDPI | Published : 2018
Abstract
Self-harm is prevalent in incarcerated adults, yet comparatively few studies of self-harm in detained youth (and even fewer in low- and middle-income countries) have been published. We examined the prevalence and correlates of self-harm in a sample of 181 young people (mean age 15.0 years, SD = 2.3) detained in the youth justice system in Sri Lanka. Structured face-to-face questionnaires assessed demographic characteristics, family and social background, substance use, self-harm history (including frequency, method, and intention), bullying victimization, physical and sexual abuse (victimization and perpetration), and exposure to self-harm/suicide by others. Seventy-seven participants (43%) ..
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Awarded by Medical Research Council
Funding Acknowledgements
The authors wish to thank all study participants for sharing their stories. We also wish to thank the commissioners of child protection and probation of the Western province and Southern province, and the Health Secretary of Uvaprovince for granting the permission to carry out this study. Special thanks go to the principals and the teachers of all four certified schools for their assistance. HLV would also like to thank Varuni de Silva Hanwella, Sudarshi Seneveratne, Jegan Yogarathnam, Thivijananth Gunasingam, Nethmini Thenuwara, and Prasad Weerathunga for their support and assistance. SK is supported by Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Fellowship APP1078168. RB is supported by NHMRC Early Career Fellowship APP1104644.