The relationship between deliberate self-harm behavior, body dissatisfaction, and suicide in adolescents: current concepts

Abstract

Deliberate self-harm (DSH) is a common though often hidden condition in children and adolescents that may result in suicide. This discussion covers several aspects of DSH including its prevalence, etiology, and management. The relationships of DSH to body dissatisfaction and suicide are specifically considered. Even though most cases of DSH do not end in overt suicide, DSH reflects that potential underlying psychological pathophysiology, and likelihood of eventual death from self-murder, cannot always be predicted or prevented. It is important to take all acts of DSH as serious, and to offer comprehensive management to prevent future acts of DSH and potential suicide.

Professional Counselors’ Conceptualizations of the Relationship between Suicide and Self-Injury

“…Claes et al, 2010;Greydanus & Apple, 2011;Hawton & Harris, 2008;Maddock et al, 2010;McAuliffe, Arensman, Keeley, Corcoran, & Fitzgerald, 2007;Muehlenkamp & Gutierrez, 2004;2007;Plener et al, 2009;. Although the increased risk of suicide among people who self-injure has been established (Toprak et al, 2011), the exact nature of this complex relationship has yet to be determined.…”

“…Risk factors for suicide include broken homes, presence of mental illness in self or family, substance misuse, previous selfinjurious behavior (Hawton & James, 2005), low self-esteem, female gender, extreme weight control behaviors, early onset of puberty, recent attempts by a friend (Greydanus & Apple, 2011), conduct problems, non-heterosexual identity ) and childhood physical abuse (Fuller-Thomson et al, 2012). Established risk factors for selfinjury include abuse, substance misuse, low self-esteem, suicidal ideation, eating disorders (Kakhnovets et al, 2010), early sexual experience, non-heterosexual identity , and low income (Toprak et al, 2011).…”

“…Common risk factors include substance misuse (e.g., Hawton & James, 2005;Kakhnovets et al, 2010), low self-esteem (e.g., Greydanus & Apple, 2011;Kakhnovets et al, 2010), suicidal ideation (e.g., Kakhnovets et al, 2010), disordered eating (e.g., Greydanus & Apple, 2011;Hawton & James, 2005;Kakhnovets et al, 2010), and nonheterosexual identity . A family history of mental illness (Hawton & James, 2005) and early onset of puberty (Greydanus & Apple, 2011) have been identified as risk factors for suicide, but may not be related to self-injury.…”

“…A family history of mental illness (Hawton & James, 2005) and early onset of puberty (Greydanus & Apple, 2011) have been identified as risk factors for suicide, but may not be related to self-injury. Additionally, early sexual experience has been linked to self-injury ) but may not be related to suicide.…”

Dyslexia: Investigating Self-Harm and Suicidal Thoughts/Attempts as a Coping Strategy

“…Greydanus and Apple [21] argue that deliberate self-harm (DSH) is a common though often hidden condition in children and adolescents that may result in suicide. Deliberate self-harm (DSH) refers to an act of purposefully harming oneself physically that may or may not reflect a real suicidal intent [22].…”