What is the connection between self-harm and suicide attempts?
Self-harm is defined as a deliberate and usually repetitive destruction or alteration of one’s own body tissue, without suicidal intent. Other terms used to describe this behavior include cutting, self-injury, self-mutilation, self-inflicted violence, and auto-aggression. It appears that self-harm and suicidal behavior both occur in all gender, race, education, sexual preference, and socio-economic groups. Another commonality is that self-harm and suicidal behaviors are being seen in younger and younger individuals. While difficult to distinguish from a suicide attempt, it is important to understand that the person who engages in self harming behavior does not intend to die as a result of his/her actions. The behavior is used to gain relief from intense emotions, to calm and soothe. It is possible for self-harm to result in accidental death and it is also possible for suicidal and self-harming behaviors to co-exist in one person. This topic is too complicated for a simple answer.
