Self-harming Behaviors Study of Adolescents in a Juvenile Detention House

Suicide among youth ranked third in Taiwan. According to a study by Lin, stressors include family, school and friends. Psychiatric symptoms also played a role (Lin, 2002) . Incarcerated adolescents with poor coping adjustment will be referred to psychologists. The psychologists were trained by the juvenile detention adolescent psychiatrist.

Taiwanese adolescents have very high rate of self-harming activities, furthermore, incarcerated adolescents are expected to have a higher rate of self-harming activities. There are few studies done on self-harming activities, suicidal intent and coping style of incarcerated youth in Taiwan. According to a study on self-harming adolescents in a juvenile correctional facility, these youth have higher rates of suicide attempts and use more violent methods of attempt than adolescents in the general population (Penn, 2003). They also have poor problem-solving skills. We hope to study their suicidal ideations, self-harming behaviors, and coping styles in order to offer appropriate and timely intervention. We can then offer skills to deal with similar triggering events in the future.

Furthermore, it is hoped that recidivism can be reduced after psychopathological intervention.

Inclusion criteria

• youth admitted at juvenile detention center on Jan 1,2010 up to Dec 31,2010

Exclusion criteria

• currently emotionally unstable, are suffering from active psychotic process like schizophrenia, mentally retarded, illiterate or refuse to participate.