“Yes, of course it hurts when buds are breaking” : A literature study on how patients with self-harming behavior experience the treatment in health care

Non-suicidal self-injury includes deliberately damaging the tissues of one's own body. Self-harming behaviour is a growing problem and the number of patients seeking care related to self-harm has increased the last years. Despite this, the number of people who don´t seek care is assumed to be high. Self-harming behaviour is a complex area with many underlying causes and functions. Patients with self-harming behaviour are a vulnerable group because of the stigma involved in injuring oneself. How patients with self-harming behaviour are treated in healthcare can have a major impact on future confidence in healthcare. The aim of this qualitative literature study was to explore how patients with self-harming behaviour experience the treatment in health care. Three main themes and six sub-themes emerged. Being acknowledged includes; patients' positive experiences, Being seen and Feeling confident. Not being taken seriously includes; the negative experiences, Feeling diminished and To feel shame and guilt. The third main theme, Being in the care chain, includes; A negative spiral and Social network. Altogether, the themes present the patient's experience of the treatment in the health care system and how structural factors contribute to the patient's experience. Negative experiences such as not being seen and heard and a feeling of shame caused an insecurity which made it difficult for the patient to seek care and to be honest with the health care staff. Patients felt that there was a lack of knowledge among health care professionals. More knowledge is needed to improve the treatment