Self-harm in children involved in private and public family justice court proceedings: longitudinal national data linkage study
The elevated risk of self-harm in children involved in public law proceedings is well recognised. Our study highlights risk in children in private family justice proceedings. Elevated risk among those from less deprived areas and those with no history of self-harm may reflect circumstances associated with family justice involvement, resulting in rates comparable to children with other pre-existing vulnerabilities. Contact with family justice is an opportunity to offer preventative support.
Authors
- Lucy Griffiths (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9230-624X)
- Akash John (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1900-0559)
- Joanna McGregor (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0242-4600)
- Rhodri Johnson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9636-0753)
- Amanda L. Marchant (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7013-6980)
- Karen Broadhurst (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4781-8067)
Institutions
- Swansea University (GB)
- Lancaster University (GB)
Publication Details
- Journal
- BJPsych Open
- Published
- 2026-02-27
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2025.10971
- Primary Topic
- Gun Ownership and Violence Research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- MQ: Transforming Mental Health
- Health and Care Research Wales
- Nuffield Foundation
- University of Cambridge
- Swansea University
- Medical Research Council
- Economic and Social Research Council