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In honor of Self Harm Awareness Month, BHIPP has gathered information and resources relevant to self-harm and suicidal ideation.
Self-Harm Awareness Month was established to raise awareness about self-harm, warning signs of self-harm, and self-harm prevention efforts. Self-harm, also known as non-suicidal self-injury, is defined as the deliberate inducement of pain or tissue damage without suicidal intent. Adolescents have a substantially high risk of engaging in self-harm behaviors, with one meta-analysis reporting a 16.9% lifetime prevalence in adolescents, with girls being more likely to self-harm (Gillies et al., 2018). Youth engage in self-harm for various reasons, including but not limited to emotion regulation, self-punishment, emotional expression, and peer influence. Self-harm is strongly associated with suicidal ideation and behaviors; youth that self-harm are at a substantially higher risk of attempting suicide (Nock et al., 2006). Thus, safety planning with youth that engage in self-harm is extremely important. Pediatric primary care providers should look out for warning signs of self-harm behaviors, including physical injuries (i.e., cuts, bruises, burns, scars), wearing weather-inappropriate clothing (i.e., wearing a long sleeve shirt in the summer), behavioral changes, and worsening symptoms of mental health disorders. Providers can support their patients by asking about self-harm, providing psychoeducation, assessing suicidality and safety planning, identifying any comorbidities, and connecting youth to evidence-based mental health treatment. Additional strategies for supporting youth who engage in self-harm or experience suicidal ideation can be found in the following resources.
General Information:
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
Self-Harm
Mayo Clinic
Self-injury/cutting
Mental Health America
Self-Injury (Cutting, Self-Harm or Self-Mutilation)
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
Treatment for Suicidal Ideation, Self-Harm, and Suicide Attempts Among Youth
Cornell University College of Human Ecology
Self-Injury & Recovery Resources
For Primary Care Providers:
Maryland Behavioral Health Integration in Pediatric Primary Care (BHIPP)
Understanding Adolescent Self-Injury Webinar
Understanding Adolescent Self-Injury Newsletter
Suicide Prevention Part I: Active Suicidality and Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Webinar
Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Newsletter
Children's Hospital Colorado
A Pediatrician's Guide to Non-Suicidal Self-Harm in Teenagers
Suicidal Ideation in Pediatric Patients
Contemporary Pediatrics
SOARS Model: Risk Assessment of Non-Suicidal Self-Injury
For Children and Families:
Nemours KidsHealth
Helping Teens Who Self-Harm
Healthychildren.org
When Children and Teens Self-Harm
Nationwide Children's
Kids and Self-Injury: What Parents Need to Know
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
How to Help When You Believe a Child is Engaging in Self-Harm
Crisis Resources
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Self-Injury Outreach & Support
Suicide Prevention:
Maryland Behavioral Health Integration in Pediatric Primary Care (BHIPP)
Suicide Prevention Part II: Safety and Crisis Planning
Suicide Prevention: Standard Operating Procedures for the Primary Care Office
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
Suicide: Blueprint for Youth Suicide Prevention
American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP)
Suicide Safety: Precautions at Home
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