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E-Message Boards for Those Who Self-Injure: Implications for E-Health

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Abstract

Virtual communities for those who self-injure (SI) are increasingly popular and involve Internet communication technologies including e-message boards. The social and emotional support of an accepting virtual community may facilitate individual recovery from SI. Via self-report data, this study describes individuals who participate in virtual communities for those who SI and implications for e-health communities. Sixty-seven individuals who participate in virtual communities responded to ten open-ended questionnaire items posted on two e-message boards for those who SI. Participants reported a variety of strategies of self-harm. The majority indicated that they SI in response to emotional distress. Almost half reported visiting the boards at least once a day. More than half indicated that their SI decreased in frequency since joining virtual communities. Virtual communities for those who SI provide information on recovery, emotional support, and a sense of community to individuals isolated by their behavior. Improved community e-health services may include peer-to-peer online support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Grant MacEwan College, Edmonton, AB, T6J 4S2, Canada

    Genevieve Marie Johnson & Sylvia Zastawny

  2. Department of Sociology, Grant MacEwan College, Edmonton, AB, T6J 4S2, Canada

    Anastasia Kulpa

Authors
  1. Genevieve Marie Johnson
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  2. Sylvia Zastawny
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  3. Anastasia Kulpa
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Correspondence to Genevieve Marie Johnson.

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Johnson, G.M., Zastawny, S. & Kulpa, A. E-Message Boards for Those Who Self-Injure: Implications for E-Health. Int J Ment Health Addiction 8, 566–569 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-009-9237-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-009-9237-x

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