Self-harm is common in adolescence with community studies reporting lifetime rates of 13-18%. Self-harm is distressing for the individual, their friends and family and leads to considerable healthcare costs for the NHS. It is associated with a range of poor outcomes in early adulthood including mental health problems, substance use, and educational and occupational difficulties, and is the strongest risk factor for suicide. Self-harm is therefore a major public health concern.

Early intervention and treatment strategies for those who self-harm are important, however, only one in eight individuals who self-harm seek medical help. This means the majority of self-harm episodes remain hidden from health services. There is an urgent need to develop interventions for young people who self-harm that are effective, accessible and engaging, and for their wider dissemination beyond those seeking medical treatment.

There is increasing interest in using technology (such as the Internet and mobile phones) to educate, monitor, and treat a variety of mental and physical health problems. Several recent government and NHS strategies have highlighted the potential for technologies to transform the delivery of mental health care and improve patient outcomes. E-health interventions have been shown to be effective for a number of different mental health problems, including depression and suicidal thoughts, but few have been developed specifically for individuals who self-harm.

The aim of the research is to is to develop an innovative and user-friendly E-health package for self-harm that is specifically targeted at young people (aged 15-25). Development of the package will be informed by:
• A thorough review of the literature on i) theories for the persistance of self-harm and for help-
seeking and ii) existing E-health interventions for self-harm and suicidal behaviour.
• Analyses of new data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) birth
cohort examining i) the functions of self-harm, ii) the reasons for stopping self-harm, iii)
preferred sources of help and iv) exploring how young people use technologies.
• Interviews and focus groups with potential users, parents/carers and peers, and professionals
working with young people who self-harm.