Young People Who Self-Harm Face Striking Increase in Suicide Risk

By Amy Orciari Herman

Edited by Susan Sadoughi, MD

Teens who self-harm are nearly 50 times more likely to commit suicide in the following year compared with their non-self-harming peers, a Pediatrics study finds.

Using Medicaid data, researchers studied over 32,000 young people with clinical diagnoses of intentional self-harm. During the year after self-harm, 48 committed suicide.

Compared with population-based controls, adolescents aged 12–17 who self-harmed were 46 times more likely to commit suicide, and young adults aged 18–24 were 19 times more likely. Suicide risk was particularly high for males, American Indians/Alaska Natives, and those who used violent self-harm methods.

Of note, the risk for repeated self-harm was 100 times higher than the risk for suicide.

The researchers conclude, "Clinical priority should be given to ensuring the safety of young people after self-harm, which may include treating underlying psychiatric disorders, restricting access to lethal means, fortifying psychosocial supports, and close monitoring for emerging suicidal symptoms."