This is a plain English summary of an original research article. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and reviewer(s) at the time of publication.
Some highly deprived areas of London have unexpectedly low rates of self-harm. New research explored why hospital data implies that self-harm is less common than expected. The study was carried out in an ethnically diverse community exposed to multiple long-term stressors such as insecure employment, poor quality housing, and high levels of crime.
The study found that the impact of stressors was partially offset by community solidarity and a culture of toughness and self-reliance. But this is not the full story. Within this community, identifying as mentally ill through self-harm was regarded as highly risky. It was thought to make people appear vulnerable, damage their social status and increase the chance of being detained or becoming involved with social services.
Consequently, local people tended to hide distress and respond with other behaviours such as misusing substances, disordered eating or putting themselves at risk of violence or sexual harm. They actively avoided mental health services.
The research uncovers new complexities in the relationship between deprivation, self-harm and mental health. It may help explain the paradoxically low rates of self-harm rates in some communities – and how people’s experiences of mental health services may shape how their distress is expressed. If the same results are found in other communities, they could improve understanding of this major public health issue. They could inform local policies for tackling mental health inequalities in disadvantaged communities.
What’s the issue?
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) defines self-harm as 'self-poisoning or self-injury carried out by a person, irrespective of the apparent purpose of the act'. Self-harm is a risk factor for suicide; more than half of those who die by suicide have previously self-harmed.
The levels of self-harm vary across different areas of England. In general, hospital A&E admissions for self-harm are twice as high in the most socioeconomically deprived neighbourhoods compared to the most affluent. But there are some exceptions, such as London, which has higher than average levels of deprivation but low rates of self-harm.
Hospital admission data from 2009 to 2016 for South London suggest that these patterns cannot be explained by local levels of deprivation. Some deprived inner-city areas have paradoxically low rates of self-harm.
Local cultures and relationships between communities and mental health services shape the way people understand and respond to stressors. Hospital admission for self-harm may be lower than expected in areas of deprivation because of this. But this does not mean there is a reduced need for mental health services.
Developing public mental health policies to ensure access to mental health support for vulnerable populations living in deprived areas is important. Failure to develop these policies and to commission mental health services may lead to further widening of mental health inequalities in the UK.
What’s new?
The study took place in a specific area of inner South London where the rates of self-harm are low compared with the surrounding city. The area has high levels of deprivation, and a reputation for crime, drug-dealing and use, and gang-related violence. More than half the population is born outside of the UK; only one-sixth identify as White British. Approximately half are Black, equally split between African and Caribbean groups.
Between October 2018 and June 2019, 26 people living and working in the area participated in interviews or focus groups to share their insight on issues relating to self-harm.
Five main themes emerged.
- Stressors affecting the community: finances, welfare benefits, employment, housing, and migration status were common stressors. Violence, drug and alcohol abuse made living in the area, a stressor. The cumulative effect could be overwhelming and led to the community feeling uncared for by others and by local and national government.
- Community solidarity: participants said the community responded to stressors with self-reliance and solidarity, which gave a sense of belonging. But the recent influx of wealthier White people and a new migrant community had undermined the established population’s strong sense of solidarity.
- Individual self-reliance: people were expected to respond to stressors with self-reliance. Some suggested that experiences build resilience and help protect mental health. A tough, self-reliant persona helped to protect against being seen as vulnerable, which could make people a target for abuse or exploitation.
- Risk of being identifiably mentally ill: self-harm was seen as clearly linked to mental illness, a weakness that reduced a person’s credibility. Many described other harmful behaviours as more usual responses to distress - including substance misuse, provoking or putting yourself at risk of violence, disordered eating, sexual and other risk-taking, neglecting or isolating yourself.
- Harm from mental health services: all participants felt that local people who self-harmed would be unlikely to seek help from mental health services. Some would not want to be known to have a mental health problem. Others emphasised the risks of engaging with services that did not understand their culture: misdiagnosis, misuse of medication, involuntary treatment. Services were not trusted. They were seen as part of a wider, interconnected system and any engagement could have difficult consequences for people.
Why is this important?
Self-harm is an important indicator of mental health in the general population. But this study found it does not reliably flag distress in a disadvantaged community.
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- This vulnerable population is being missed in current records on self-harm. The statistics appear to show low levels of self-harm but this is not the full picture. People in the study area who self-harmed were less likely than others to present to hospital and were therefore not all included in routine admission data. This is not a sign of the effectiveness of services but stems from the community’s lack of confidence in them.
- High levels of stress were linked to many other types of harmful behaviour than those clinically defined as self-harm. These behaviours may be more common responses to stress because the community was less likely to link them to mental illness.
What’s next?
Black communities in the UK experience more compulsory involvement with mental health services than other groups. This may partly explain the lack of trust in services shown in this study. Mental health services need to address the differences in experience for ethnic minority groups and those living in deprived areas. It can lead to a lack of confidence in health services and reduced access.
Public mental health policy, and health and social care professionals, may also need to consider a wider range of harmful behaviours as indicators of stress and distress. These behaviours may signal a need for intervention. This way of thinking could improve access to mental health support for ethnic minority groups and those living in deprived areas.
You may be interested to read
The full paper: Polling C, and others. “There is so much more for us to lose if we were to kill ourselves”: understanding paradoxically low rates of self-harm in a socioeconomically disadvantaged community in London. Qualitative Health Research. 2021; 31:1
The Mental Health Foundation, which promotes good mental health for all
Information about self-harm, including possible causes and how to access treatment and support, from Mind, the mental health charity.
Funding: This research was supported by the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and King’s College London. Catherine Polling (Lead Author) is funded by a Wellcome Trust Research Training Fellowship.
Conflicts of Interest: The study authors declare no conflicts of interest.
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