Self-harm & Suicide

Self-harm is an increasingly recognised phenomenon and one of the strongest predictors of suicide, which continues to be one of the leading causes of death in young people world-wide. Self-harm can take many forms and may present with or without suicidal intent and both in the context of mental disorder, and without.

  • Family-focused CBT is not superior to enhanced treatment-as-usual in reducing suicide attempts

    In 2011, Esposito-Smythers et al. reported that integrated outpatient cognitive-behavioural therapy (I-CBT) significantly reduced substance use, suicidal behaviours, and the rate of health service use compared with enhanced treatment-as-usual (E-TAU) in adolescents with co-occurring alcohol or drug use disorder and suicidality.

    Read more
  • DBT is effective for youth with high levels of emotion dysregulation

    In 2019, Molly Adrian and colleagues examined the predictors and moderators of treatment outcomes for suicidal adolescents who participated in a randomized controlled trial evaluating Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) versus Individual/Group Supportive Therapy (IGST).

    Read more
  • Childhood maltreatment increases suicide risk despite strong neuropsychological functioning

    A cross-sectional and prospective study recently examined the independent effects of childhood maltreatment, neuropsychological functioning, and psychopathology, and their potential interactions with suicidal behaviour.

    Read more
  • Social connectedness is a protective factor against short-term suicide attempts (post discharge) in school children

    Researchers in the USA have performed a multi-site, prospective analysis of >2,000 adolescents aged 12-17 years to try to determine the short-term predictors of suicide attempts within 3-months of an emergency department visit. The study population was enriched to include a high proportion of adolescents at risk for suicide attempts.

    Read more
  • Neuroscience Edition Editorial

    Welcome to this Neuroscience themed edition of The Bridge.

    Read more
  • Depression, Self-harm and Suicidal Thoughts

    There are good treatments available for depression, (pharmacological and non-pharmacological) though more options are required to meet the needs of those that do not respond well to treatment. The costs to society, not just the treatment cost but also cost to individuals and wider society including education and employment, are huge.

    Read more
  • Self-Harm & Suicide Issue

    As a clinician, it certainly does feel that more and more young people are being referred, following self harm or with suicidal ideas, to the CAMHS service I work in. This nationwide increase in numbers is acknowledged in recent government reports, which are summarised in this edition.

    Read more
  • Machine learning approach predicts suicide risk

    A study has evaluated the performance of machine learning on routinely collected electronic health records, as a possible approach to accurately screen and detect adolescents at risk of making suicide attempts.

    Read more
  • The family environment mediates risk of self-harming

    Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) constitutes any deliberate physical injury to oneself that is not life-threatening. It is a behaviour that commonly starts during adolescence. Childhood family adversity (CFA) is associated with NSSI, but the risk pathways between CFA and NSSI are unclear.

    Read more
  • worried teen girl

    Self-harm & Suicide

    Self-harm is an increasingly recognised phenomenon and one of the strongest predictors of suicide, which continues to be one of the leading causes of death in young people worldwide. Self-harm can take many forms and may present with or without suicidal intent and both in the context of mental disorder, and without.

    Read more