%0 Journal Article
%@ 2368-7959
%I JMIR Publications
%V 4
%N 4
%P e44
%T Exploring the Therapeutic Affordances of Self-Harm Online Support Communities: An Online Survey of Members
%A Coulson,Neil S
%A Bullock,Emma
%A Rodham,Karen
%+ University of Nottingham, Division of Rehabilitation & Ageing, School of Medicine, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, United Kingdom, 44 01158466642, neil.coulson@nottingham.ac.uk
%K self-harm
%K social network
%K social support
%K qualitative research
%K online support group
%D 2017
%7 13.10.2017
%9 Original Paper
%J JMIR Ment Health
%G English
%X Background: A growing number of online communities have been established to support those who self-harm. However, little is known about the therapeutic affordances arising from engagement with these communities and resulting outcomes. Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the presence of therapeutic affordances as reported by members of self-harm online support communities. Methods: In total, 94 respondents (aged 13-63 years, mean=23.5 years; 94% female) completed an online survey exploring their experiences of engaging with a self-harm online support community. Respondents varied in terms of how long they had been accessing an online community, with 22% (21/94) accessing less than 1 year, 39% (37/94) 1 to 2 years, 14% (13/94) 2 to 3 years, and 24.5% (23/94) more than 3 years. Responses were analyzed using deductive thematic analysis. Results: The results of our analysis describe each of the five therapeutic affordances that were present in the data, namely (1) connection, the ability to make contact with others who self-harm for the purposes of mutual support and in so doing reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation; (2) adaptation, that is, how use of online support varies in relation to the personal circumstances of the individual user; (3) exploration, that is, the ability to learn about self-harm and learn about strategies to reduce or stop self-harming behavior; (4) narration, that is, the ability to share experiences, as well as read about the experiences of others; and (5) self-presentation, that is, how and what users present about themselves to others in the online community. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that engagement with self-harm online support communities may confer a range of therapeutic benefits for some users, which may serve to minimize the psychosocial burden of self-harm and promote positive coping strategies. In addition, the online nature of the support available may be helpful to those who are unable to access face-to-face support. 
%M 29030324
%R 10.2196/mental.8084
%U http://mental.jmir.org/2017/4/e44/
%U https://doi.org/10.2196/mental.8084
%U http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29030324