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Self-harm in children involved in private and public family justice court proceedings: a longitudinal national data linkage study

Ann John Orcid Logo, Joanna McGregor Orcid Logo, Lucy Griffiths Orcid Logo, Rhodri Johnson Orcid Logo, Karen Broadhurst, Amanda Marchant Orcid Logo

BJPsych Open

Swansea University Authors: Ann John Orcid Logo, Joanna McGregor Orcid Logo, Lucy Griffiths Orcid Logo, Rhodri Johnson Orcid Logo, Amanda Marchant Orcid Logo

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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...

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Published in: BJPsych Open
ISSN: 2056-4724
Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
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URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa71197
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fullrecord <?xml version="1.0"?><rfc1807><datestamp>2026-02-19T10:39:06.9517017</datestamp><bib-version>v2</bib-version><id>71197</id><entry>2026-01-06</entry><title>Self-harm in children involved in private and public family justice court proceedings: a longitudinal national data linkage study</title><swanseaauthors><author><sid>ed8a9c37bd7b7235b762d941ef18ee55</sid><ORCID>0000-0002-5657-6995</ORCID><firstname>Ann</firstname><surname>John</surname><name>Ann John</name><active>true</active><ethesisStudent>false</ethesisStudent></author><author><sid>caa651da7e3807cbeac8ec2f40643677</sid><ORCID>0000-0003-0242-4600</ORCID><firstname>Joanna</firstname><surname>McGregor</surname><name>Joanna McGregor</name><active>true</active><ethesisStudent>false</ethesisStudent></author><author><sid>e35ea6ea4b429e812ef204b048131d93</sid><ORCID>0000-0001-9230-624X</ORCID><firstname>Lucy</firstname><surname>Griffiths</surname><name>Lucy Griffiths</name><active>true</active><ethesisStudent>false</ethesisStudent></author><author><sid>5f97fd65ef8cf66db750f645f115454c</sid><ORCID>0000-0001-9636-0753</ORCID><firstname>Rhodri</firstname><surname>Johnson</surname><name>Rhodri Johnson</name><active>true</active><ethesisStudent>false</ethesisStudent></author><author><sid>0776f450dd575004ba7c69930c579cae</sid><ORCID>0000-0001-7013-6980</ORCID><firstname>Amanda</firstname><surname>Marchant</surname><name>Amanda Marchant</name><active>true</active><ethesisStudent>false</ethesisStudent></author></swanseaauthors><date>2026-01-06</date><deptcode>MEDS</deptcode><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.</abstract><type>Journal Article</type><journal>BJPsych Open</journal><volume/><journalNumber/><paginationStart/><paginationEnd/><publisher>Cambridge University Press (CUP)</publisher><placeOfPublication/><isbnPrint/><isbnElectronic/><issnPrint/><issnElectronic>2056-4724</issnElectronic><keywords>care proceedings; administrative data; data linkage; children; self-harm</keywords><publishedDay>0</publishedDay><publishedMonth>0</publishedMonth><publishedYear>0</publishedYear><publishedDate>0001-01-01</publishedDate><doi>10.1192/bjo.2025.10971</doi><url/><notes>In press</notes><college>COLLEGE NANME</college><department>Medical School</department><CollegeCode>COLLEGE CODE</CollegeCode><DepartmentCode>MEDS</DepartmentCode><institution>Swansea University</institution><apcterm>SU Library paid the OA fee (TA Institutional Deal)</apcterm><funders>Health and Care Research Wales; ESRC National Centre for Research Methods, University of Southampton; Nuffield Foundation; Medical Research Council</funders><projectreference>Medical Research Council, ESRC, HCRW Nuffield FJO, MQ (MC_PC_17211, MR/W014386/1, MR/W014386, ES/S007393/1, SCF-22-10, FJO/43766, MQBF/3 ADP)</projectreference><lastEdited>2026-02-19T10:39:06.9517017</lastEdited><Created>2026-01-06T10:20:46.7064618</Created><path><level id="1">Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences</level><level id="2">Swansea University Medical School - Health Data Science</level></path><authors><author><firstname>Ann</firstname><surname>John</surname><orcid>0000-0002-5657-6995</orcid><order>1</order></author><author><firstname>Joanna</firstname><surname>McGregor</surname><orcid>0000-0003-0242-4600</orcid><order>2</order></author><author><firstname>Lucy</firstname><surname>Griffiths</surname><orcid>0000-0001-9230-624X</orcid><order>3</order></author><author><firstname>Rhodri</firstname><surname>Johnson</surname><orcid>0000-0001-9636-0753</orcid><order>4</order></author><author><firstname>Karen</firstname><surname>Broadhurst</surname><order>5</order></author><author><firstname>Amanda</firstname><surname>Marchant</surname><orcid>0000-0001-7013-6980</orcid><order>6</order></author></authors><documents/><OutputDurs/></rfc1807>
spelling 2026-02-19T10:39:06.9517017 v2 71197 2026-01-06 Self-harm in children involved in private and public family justice court proceedings: a longitudinal national data linkage study ed8a9c37bd7b7235b762d941ef18ee55 0000-0002-5657-6995 Ann John Ann John true false caa651da7e3807cbeac8ec2f40643677 0000-0003-0242-4600 Joanna McGregor Joanna McGregor true false e35ea6ea4b429e812ef204b048131d93 0000-0001-9230-624X Lucy Griffiths Lucy Griffiths true false 5f97fd65ef8cf66db750f645f115454c 0000-0001-9636-0753 Rhodri Johnson Rhodri Johnson true false 0776f450dd575004ba7c69930c579cae 0000-0001-7013-6980 Amanda Marchant Amanda Marchant true false 2026-01-06 MEDS 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. Journal Article BJPsych Open Cambridge University Press (CUP) 2056-4724 care proceedings; administrative data; data linkage; children; self-harm 0 0 0 0001-01-01 10.1192/bjo.2025.10971 In press COLLEGE NANME Medical School COLLEGE CODE MEDS Swansea University SU Library paid the OA fee (TA Institutional Deal) Health and Care Research Wales; ESRC National Centre for Research Methods, University of Southampton; Nuffield Foundation; Medical Research Council Medical Research Council, ESRC, HCRW Nuffield FJO, MQ (MC_PC_17211, MR/W014386/1, MR/W014386, ES/S007393/1, SCF-22-10, FJO/43766, MQBF/3 ADP) 2026-02-19T10:39:06.9517017 2026-01-06T10:20:46.7064618 Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences Swansea University Medical School - Health Data Science Ann John 0000-0002-5657-6995 1 Joanna McGregor 0000-0003-0242-4600 2 Lucy Griffiths 0000-0001-9230-624X 3 Rhodri Johnson 0000-0001-9636-0753 4 Karen Broadhurst 5 Amanda Marchant 0000-0001-7013-6980 6
title Self-harm in children involved in private and public family justice court proceedings: a longitudinal national data linkage study
spellingShingle 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
Amanda Marchant
title_short Self-harm in children involved in private and public family justice court proceedings: a longitudinal national data linkage study
title_full Self-harm in children involved in private and public family justice court proceedings: a longitudinal national data linkage study
title_fullStr Self-harm in children involved in private and public family justice court proceedings: a longitudinal national data linkage study
title_full_unstemmed Self-harm in children involved in private and public family justice court proceedings: a longitudinal national data linkage study
title_sort Self-harm in children involved in private and public family justice court proceedings: a longitudinal national data linkage study
author_id_str_mv ed8a9c37bd7b7235b762d941ef18ee55
caa651da7e3807cbeac8ec2f40643677
e35ea6ea4b429e812ef204b048131d93
5f97fd65ef8cf66db750f645f115454c
0776f450dd575004ba7c69930c579cae
author_id_fullname_str_mv ed8a9c37bd7b7235b762d941ef18ee55_***_Ann John
caa651da7e3807cbeac8ec2f40643677_***_Joanna McGregor
e35ea6ea4b429e812ef204b048131d93_***_Lucy Griffiths
5f97fd65ef8cf66db750f645f115454c_***_Rhodri Johnson
0776f450dd575004ba7c69930c579cae_***_Amanda Marchant
author Ann John
Joanna McGregor
Lucy Griffiths
Rhodri Johnson
Amanda Marchant
author2 Ann John
Joanna McGregor
Lucy Griffiths
Rhodri Johnson
Karen Broadhurst
Amanda Marchant
format Journal article
container_title BJPsych Open
institution Swansea University
issn 2056-4724
doi_str_mv 10.1192/bjo.2025.10971
publisher Cambridge University Press (CUP)
college_str Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
hierarchytype
hierarchy_top_id facultyofmedicinehealthandlifesciences
hierarchy_top_title Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
hierarchy_parent_id facultyofmedicinehealthandlifesciences
hierarchy_parent_title Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
department_str Swansea University Medical School - Health Data Science{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences{{{_:::_}}}Swansea University Medical School - Health Data Science
document_store_str 0
active_str 0
description 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.
published_date 0001-01-01T05:25:18Z
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