Abstract
BackgroundNon-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is associated with significant adverse consequences, including increased risk of suicide, and is a growing public health concern. Consequently, facilitating help-seeking in youth who self-injure is an important goal. Although young people who disclose their NSSI typically confide in peers and family, it is unclear how this disclosure and related variables (e.g. support from family and friends, coping behaviours, reasons for living) affect help-seeking over time. The aim of this study was to advance understanding of the impact of disclosure of NSSI by young people and to investigate these effects over time.MethodsA sample of 2637 adolescents completed self-report questionnaires at three time points, one year apart.ResultsOf the sample, 526 reported a history of NSSI and 308 of those who self-injured had disclosed their behaviour to someone else, most commonly friends and parents.ConclusionsOverall, we observed that disclosure of NSSI to parents facilitates informal help-seeking, improves coping and reduces suicidality, but that disclosure to peers might reduce perceived social support and encourage NSSI in others. We discuss these findings in light of their clinical and research implications.
Highlights
Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is associated with significant adverse consequences, including increased risk of suicide, and is a growing public health concern
Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a challenging, yet prevalent, behaviour which typically begins during adolescence [1] and is related to difficulties with emotion regulation [2]
At baseline 526 (10.2; 28 % male; 72 % female) adolescents reported a history of NSSI
Summary
Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is associated with significant adverse consequences, including increased risk of suicide, and is a growing public health concern. Young people who disclose their NSSI typically confide in peers and family, it is unclear how this disclosure and related variables (e.g. support from family and friends, coping behaviours, reasons for living) affect help-seeking over time. Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a challenging, yet prevalent, behaviour which typically begins during adolescence [1] and is related to difficulties with emotion regulation [2]. For the 18 % of young people who engage in NSSI, the importance of seeking help to address psycho-social concerns is clear [1, 4]. Young people who self-injure avoid help, a phenomenon known as help negation [5]. Help negation manifests in the behavioural refusal or avoidance of obtaining and engaging in available help services, as well as the cognitive
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