Suicide and Self Harm in Young People

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Background

Suicide is a leading cause of death among young people worldwide, and a history of prior self-harm the strongest predictor of subsequent suicide. Community-based studies have shown that approximately 10% of young people have harmed themselves, with recent research suggesting an increase in the incidence of self-harm and suicide among this group, especially in children. Additionally, the potential longer-term impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on youth mental health are not yet well understood. Self-harm in young people remains, for the most part, hidden within the community, and so providing timely and targeted interventions remains a key challenge for clinicians and for those working in the broader area of youth
mental health. Evidence based interventions include those which foster socio-emotional life skills in adolescents and early identification, assessment, and follow-up of individuals affected by suicidal behaviours.

This Research Topic is dedicated to better understanding the factors underlying suicidal behavior in adolescence, global trends in the incidence of youth self-harm and suicide, and innovative interventions to reduce self-harm and prevent suicide among young people. The research topic will feature research which provides up-to-date findings in relation to the prevalence of suicidal behaviour globally and regionally, with a particular focus on establishing the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on youth self-harm and suicide. We
aim to examine factors which contribute to the onset of self-harm among young people, as well as examine potential mechanisms and modifiable factors which may reduce risk of self-harm and suicide.
While there is some evidence for universal mental health awareness interventions for young people, as well as broader suicide prevention approaches such as restriction of access to means of suicide and self-
harm, more research focus on upstream approaches which seek to reduce risk factors and promote protective factors is warranted. In particular research focusing on the implementation and uptake of such programmes is lacking.

We welcome Original Research article, Brief research reports and Review articles addressing the above aims. We welcome studies using data from, but not limited to: population-based surveys, surveillance and registry-based data systems, cohort studies, clinical samples, interview cohorts, and trial-based studies. We would particularly welcome submissions from research focused on low- and middle- income countries (LMICs).

We welcome a range of submissions on the topic of youth self-harm and suicide, including:
• The aetiology and onset of suicidal behavior in young people
• Epidemiology of youth self-harm and suicide, including recent trends
• Risk and protective factors for self-harm and suicide
• The impact of Covid-19 on self-harm and suicide in young people
• The meaning and experience of self-harm for young people
• Novel approaches to reducing self-harm or suicide in young people, including universal programmes, clinical and psychosocial interventions

Keywords: self harm, CAP

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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