Self-harm in adolescence: a marker for psychosocial problems in early adulthood

The question of how to prevent and manage self-harm effectively among adolescents is not a new one but the evidence base for effective treatment and prevention is still sparse. As many as one in ten adolescents have been found to have self-harmed and most do not seek treatment. For those who do present to hospital services, about one in four will re-attend hospital with a repeat episode. Adolescents who present to hospital following self-harm are at increased risk of future suicide, repeat self-harm, and future psychosocial adversity.