Sign in Subscribe
Mental health

Brief Admission by Self-Referral for Adolescents with Self-Harm at Risk of Suicide-A Qualitative Interview Study

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Research conducted by Skane University Hospital in Lund, Sweden, has shed light on the experiences of healthcare professionals in implementing Brief Admission by Self-Referral (BA) for adolescents with self-harm at risk of suicide. The study aimed to explore the challenges and benefits of this crisis intervention approach, which offers support based on autonomy and has been associated with reduced need of emergency care. The research involved interviews with 14 healthcare professionals from outpatient and inpatient psychiatric care, which were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. The findings suggest that BA was perceived as valuable caretaking without taking over, promoting mental growth and agency in adolescents. However, challenges were identified, including system inflexibility and difficulty fitting BA into the physical care context.

Key Takeaways:

  • Brief Admission by Self-Referral (BA) is a crisis intervention approach that offers support based on autonomy and has been associated with reduced need of emergency care.
  • BA aims to promote mental growth and agency in adolescents with self-harm at risk of suicide.
  • Interviews with 14 healthcare professionals from outpatient and inpatient psychiatric care highlighted the benefits and challenges of implementing BA.
  • Key work processes included being grounded in leadership and outpatient treatment.
  • System inflexibility and difficulty fitting BA into the physical care context were identified as challenges.
  • The study found that BA was perceived as valuable caretaking without taking over.
  • Healthcare professionals experienced relief in families and themselves due to BA.
  • The study suggests that BA can be an effective approach for adolescents with self-harm at risk of suicide.

Statistics:

  • 14 healthcare professionals participated in the study.
  • The study was conducted in Region Skane, Sweden.
  • The research was funded by The Swedish Research Council, Swedish Governmental Funding of Clinical Research, Alf, Mats Paulsson Foundation For Research, Innovation and Community Development, Lions Foundation For Medical Research in Skane, and Lindhaga Foundation.
  • The study was published in Behavioral Sciences in 2025.
  • The publisher of Behavioral Sciences is MDPI AG.
  • A free version of the journal article is available at https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15091210.

Sources:

  • NewsRx. Study Findings from Skane University Hospital Advance Knowledge in Behavioral Science (Healthcare Professionals' Experiences of Brief Admission by Self-Referral for Adolescents with Self-Harm at Risk of Suicide-A Qualitative Interview Study). Mental Health Weekly Digest. October 13, 2025; p 1205.
  • Behavioral Sciences. Healthcare Professionals' Experiences of Brief Admission by Self-Referral for Adolescents with Self-Harm at Risk of Suicide-A Qualitative Interview Study. 2025,15(9):1210. (http://www.mdpi.com/journal/behavsci)
  • MDPI AG. Behavioral Sciences.

Read more