Non-Suicidal Self-Injury in Adolescents.

Abstract

While awareness of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) appears to be increasing among school counselors, social workers, nurses, school and program administrators, and others who work with adolescents, it remains one of the most difficult behaviors to encounter, with few professionals feeling well equipped to handle these situations. Long described in the psychiatric literature, NSSI has received less attention among community samples. There is little formal training in NSSI identification, prevention, and treatment. This introductory article aims to: (1) define NSSI, describe its prevalence, and identify common risk factors among adolescents; (2) distinguish NSSI from suicidal behaviors; and (3) explore the motivations for engaging in NSSI. Unless otherwise specified, the primary focus of this article concerns self-injury among "community" samples of youth, with community referring to nonclinical settings in which youth are prevalent, such as high school and college settings.