Journal article 16 views
Self-harm in children involved in private and public family justice court proceedings: a longitudinal national data linkage study
Ann John 
,
Joanna McGregor ,
Lucy Griffiths ,
Rhodri Johnson ,
Karen Broadhurst,
Amanda Marchant
,
Joanna McGregor ,
Lucy Griffiths ,
Rhodri Johnson ,
Karen Broadhurst,
Amanda Marchant
BJPsych Open
Swansea University Authors:
Ann John , Joanna McGregor , Lucy Griffiths , Rhodri Johnson , Amanda Marchant
Full text not available from this repository: check for access using links below.
DOI (Published version): 10.1192/bjo.2025.10971
Abstract
Background Little is known about self-harm in children involved in family justice proceedings, particularly in private family court in England and Wales. Aims To examine records of self-harm in children involved in private and public law proceedings using population-level linked data. Method A retro...
| Published in: | BJPsych Open |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 2056-4724 |
| Published: |
Cambridge University Press (CUP)
|
| Online Access: |
Check full text
|
| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa71197 |
| Abstract: |
Background Little is known about self-harm in children involved in family justice proceedings, particularly in private family court in England and Wales. Aims To examine records of self-harm in children involved in private and public law proceedings using population-level linked data. Method A retrospective e-cohort study of children aged under 18-years, using linked health and family justice (Cafcass-Cymru) data (2011-2018). Family court involvement was recorded from age 0-17 years. Incidence of self-harm was recorded from agd 10-17 to fit with standard definition of self-harm. Annual incidence of self-harm over time across GP, Emergency Department (ED), and hospital admissions for individual children in private and public law proceedings were compared to a non-court cohort using Poisson regression. Self-harm following court proceedings was compared with an age-and-sex matched non-court cohort using Cox regression. Results Adjusted self-harm rates were higher in court-involved children than the non-court cohort (incident rate ratios (IRRs[95% CI], private: GP 1.8[1.6-2.1]; ED 1.4[1.2-1.7]; admissions 1.8[1.5-2.1]; public: GP 4.6[4.1-5.3]; ED 5.0[4.3-5.8]; admissions 5.0[4.3-5.8]). Compared with matched comparison children, risk of self-harm was higher following private (adjusted hazard ratios (HR) 2.0[1.7-2.2]) and public court proceedings (HR 2.3[2.7-3.8]). HRs were greater for those from less deprived areas and those with no history of self-harm. Conclusions 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. |
|---|---|
| Item Description: |
In press |
| Keywords: |
care proceedings; administrative data; data linkage; children; self-harm |
| College: |
Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences |
| Funders: |
Health and Care Research Wales; ESRC National Centre for Research Methods, University of Southampton; Nuffield Foundation; Medical Research Council |