Self-Mutilation Among Runaway and Homeless Youth

Abstract

In this chapter, self-mutilation, also known as deliberate self-harm (DSH), and suicidal behavior among runaway and homeless young people are analyzed. These street youth may intentionally burn themselves, cut themselves on their extremities, hit themselves, bang their head against a wall, insert objects under their nails, scrape skin to draw blood, pull their hair out, or use other forms of self-mutilation (Jorgensen et al., 2009; Favazza, The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 186, 259–268, 1998; Saewyc and Edinburgh, The Journal of Adolescent Health, 46(2), 180–188, 2010; Women and self-harm: Understanding, coping, and healing from self-mutilation, London, 1998; Tyler et al., Journal of Research on Adolescence, 13(4), 457–474, 2003; Williams et al., Journal of Youth Studies, 4(2), 233–253, 2001). This chapter analyzes factors such as gender, sexual orientation, child sexual and physical abuse, neglect, trauma, human trafficking victimization, social isolation, and stress that may increase the probability that street youth will engage in DSH to cope with overwhelming emotions while on the streets (Jorgensen et al., 2009; Tyler et al., Journal of Research on Adolescence, 13(4), 457–474, 2003).