Paramedic attitudes to deliberate self-harming behaviour in Ireland

The National Suicide Research Foundation tells us there were 12 210 presentations of deliberate self harm (DSH) to emergency departments in the Republic of Ireland in 2012 (National Suicide Research Foundation, 2012). They note the highest rate of DSH was among 15–19-year-olds.

The purpose of this article is to stimulate discussions and reflections among paramedics around DSH, to identify beliefs around this issue and perhaps, to challenge some of these beliefs.

The paramedic may be the first point of contact for increasing numbers of mental health patients. Our focus is on repairing physical injuries with little attention being given to the patient's experience.

Research tells us attitudes are an important concept that relate to emotions, cognitions and behaviours (Ajzen, 1988). An attitude involves a tendency to react in a certain way when confronted by certain stimuli (Oppenheim, 1992). The attitudes practitioners hold towards patients who self harm is an area worthy of exploration. Being met with hostile cognitions and rejecting behaviours may be an additional risk factor for patients presenting with DSH. Morgan and Priest tell us the attitudes of others may be just as important as the psychopathology of the person who dies by suicide (1991).