Year: 2008 Source: Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, v.38, no.1, (February 2008), p.60-73 SIEC No: 20080616

The rate & predictors of parental detection of youth self-harm behaviour & relationship with help-seeking were examined in 7,036 parent-child dyads from the 1999 & 2004 surveys of Mental Health of Children & Young People in Great Britain. Youth self-harm behaviour was reported by 463 children & adolescents but only 190 of the parents. Reports were more accurate if parents were from majority White ethnicity, were mothers of girls, experienced psychological distress themselves, or if children were older or had emotional/behavioural problems. Parental detection of youth self-harm was associated with increased likelihood of professional help-seeking. (41 refs.)