TY - JOUR

T1 - Financial Stress and Self-Harm in Sri Lanka

AU - Nyakutsikwa, Blessing

AU - Taylor, Peter James

AU - Hawton, Keith

AU - Poole, Rob

AU - Weerasinghe, Manjula

AU - Dissanayake, Kalpani

AU - Rajapakshe, Sandamali

AU - Hashini, Pramila

AU - Eddleston, Michael

AU - Konradsen, Flemming

AU - Huxley, Peter

AU - Robinson, Catherine

AU - Pearson, Melissa

PY - 2024/9/20

Y1 - 2024/9/20

N2 - ObjectiveSocioeconomic status deprivation is known to be associated with self-harm in Western countries but there is less information about this association in Low and Middle Income Countries (LMIC). One way of investigating this is to assess the prevalence of indicators of financial stress in people who self-harm. We have assessed the prevalence and correlates of day-to-day financial hardships amongst individual presenting with non-fatal self-harm to hospitals in Sri Lanka.MethodsData on non-fatal self-harm presentations were collected from an ongoing surveillance project in 52 hospitals in Sri Lanka. A questionnaire captured data on two forms of financial stress: unmet need (i.e., costs and bills that cannot be paid) and required support (i.e., steps taken to cover costs, such as selling belongings). Additional data on demographic, economic and clinical characteristics were also collected.ResultsThe sample included 2516 individuals. Both forms of financial stress were very common, with pawning/selling items (47%) and asking family or friends for money (46%) in order to pay bills or cover costs being commonly reported. Greater financial stress was associated with being aged 26-55 years, limited education, and low socioeconomic position. Financial stress was greater in women than men after adjusting for other factors.ConclusionThe results indicate that financial stress is commonly reported amongst individuals presenting to hospital with non-fatal self-harm in Sri Lanka, especially women. The research highlights a need to attend to financial stress both within self-harm prevention and aftercare.

AB - ObjectiveSocioeconomic status deprivation is known to be associated with self-harm in Western countries but there is less information about this association in Low and Middle Income Countries (LMIC). One way of investigating this is to assess the prevalence of indicators of financial stress in people who self-harm. We have assessed the prevalence and correlates of day-to-day financial hardships amongst individual presenting with non-fatal self-harm to hospitals in Sri Lanka.MethodsData on non-fatal self-harm presentations were collected from an ongoing surveillance project in 52 hospitals in Sri Lanka. A questionnaire captured data on two forms of financial stress: unmet need (i.e., costs and bills that cannot be paid) and required support (i.e., steps taken to cover costs, such as selling belongings). Additional data on demographic, economic and clinical characteristics were also collected.ResultsThe sample included 2516 individuals. Both forms of financial stress were very common, with pawning/selling items (47%) and asking family or friends for money (46%) in order to pay bills or cover costs being commonly reported. Greater financial stress was associated with being aged 26-55 years, limited education, and low socioeconomic position. Financial stress was greater in women than men after adjusting for other factors.ConclusionThe results indicate that financial stress is commonly reported amongst individuals presenting to hospital with non-fatal self-harm in Sri Lanka, especially women. The research highlights a need to attend to financial stress both within self-harm prevention and aftercare.

U2 - 10.1080/13811118.2024.2403499

DO - 10.1080/13811118.2024.2403499

M3 - Article

JO - Archives of Suicide Research

JF - Archives of Suicide Research

SN - 1381-1118

ER -