RESILIENCE TO SELF-HARM: A CULTURALLY INFORMED STUDY OF RECOVERED YOUNG ADULTS FROM CANADA AND INDIA

Abstract

Self-harm, or the act of intentionally hurting oneself, is an increasingly prevalent phenomenon across the globe. While the detrimental effects of self-harm on health and well-being are well documented, less is known about the protective factors and processes that support individuals’ resilience and recovery. This phenomenological inquiry shifts the focus from a pathologizing discourse to a strength’s framework by studying lived experiences of resilience to self-harm. Based on the DSM-V criterion, individuals who had five or more lifetime episodes of self-harm and had no attempts over a one-year period were invited to participate. Visual elicitation and semi-structured interviews were used to collect data from two countries: Canada and India. Thirteen young adults (seven Canadian, five Indian and one Indo-Canadian) in the age range of 18-26 shared their experiences. Interviews were analysed using Braun and Clarke’s (2006) guidelines for thematic analysis. Findings present a nuanced understanding of the psychological, social, and cultural aspects of developing resilience to self-harm through three interconnected and non-linear processes: sensing, connecting, and responding. By viewing self-harm from a socio-cultural lens as an embodied practice, a means to cope, endure and find meaning, this study de-stigmatizes perceptions of self-harm that are firmly rooted in normative binaries imposed by Western discourses, thereby addressing cultural heterogeneity in patterns of self-harm, such as the role of stigma, misconceptions and attitudes towards self-harm that are crucial in building resilience across cultures. By identifying general as well as context- and culture-specific resources, implications address improving services for young adults who have experiences with self-harm, to foster their long-term health and well‐being.