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Objective: Although non-suicidal self-injury (i.e., NSSI) has been suggested as a robust risk factor of suicide, NSSI related information that is most related to suicide risk remains unclear. Commonly studied NSSI characteristics are its frequency and the number of methods endorsed. However, it may not be merely how frequent or how many different methods that matters, but "why," which alludes to the importance of NSSI functions (or why individuals engage in NSSI). Thus, this study examined how the interactions between NSSI characteristics and functions are associated with suicide risk. Methods: Undergraduate students (n = 820) with a lifetime history of NSSI, filled out self-report measures on NSSI and suicide risk. A hierarchical regression analysis was conducted to examine the moderation effects between four 2-way interactions (i.e., method X intrapersonal; method X interpersonal; frequency X intrapersonal; frequency X interpersonal) on suicide risk. Results: Main effects of all four independent variables were statistically significant. In terms of interactions, the intrapersonal function moderated both the effects of NSSI frequency and methods on suicide risk, whereas the interpersonal function moderated the effects of NSSI frequency on suicide risk. Conclusion: Our results highlight that some NSSI related information than others are more indicative of suicide risk. In particular, the combination of NSSI functions, along with its frequency and number of methods, holds promise when assessing for current and lifetime suicidal thoughts and behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Substance use and suicide ideation are common behaviors that often overlap among college students. However, clues about their temporal relationship, as well as moderating factors (e.g., distress, peer perceptions of substance use), are understudied. Indeed, those with a history of suicide ideation may use avoidance coping (including substance use) to manage distress, underscoring the possibility of substance use as a response to suicide ideation, an oft-stressful experience in and of itself. Further, as a low sense of belongingness confers risk for suicide ideation, distress may increase compliance with perceived cultural norms, thus increasing substance use behavior. This study examined the effect of the suicide ideation-distress-peer perception interaction on substance use. Participants were 3,608 undergraduate students across eleven college campuses. Measures of past month substance use frequency, general distress, peer perceptions of substance use, and past year suicide ideation were utilized. Suicidal ideation was associated with e-cigarette, marijuana, and illicit drug use. There were main effects of suicide ideation (on e-cigarette and marijuana use) and peer perceptions of substance use (on tobacco, alcohol, e-cigarette, and marijuana use), but not distress, on past 30-day substance use. Further, the three-way interaction of suicide ideation, distress, and peer perceptions of substance use predicted frequency of past month tobacco and illicit drug use. Suicide ideation may be temporally linked to use of specific substances. Peer perception and distress may strengthen the suicide ideation-substance use relationship. These factors should be carefully considered when treating individuals with substance use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NSSI is a robust predictor of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Despite this close link, there is a lack of information regarding specific behavioral and psychological features of NSSI that may influence, or serve as drivers, of these relationships. Consequently, the aim of the current study was to elucidate the specific NSSI-related mechanisms that may confer risk for suicide ideation and suicide attempts. Participants having a lifetime history of NSSI (N = 659) were included in the current study and completed a series of online questionnaires. Exploratory mediation analysis was utilized to simultaneously examine 28 behavioral and psychological NSSI features as potential mechanisms of the NSSI-suicide ideation and NSSI-suicide attempt relationships. Results identified 11 NSSI features as having non-zero specific indirect effects in the NSSI-suicide ideation relationship, with the antisuicide function of NSSI having the strongest influence. In examining the NSSI-suicide attempt relationship 12 NSSI features were identified as having non-zero specific indirect effects, with endorsement of swallowing dangerous substances as an NSSI method having the strongest influence. These findings suggest psychological and behavioral features of NSSI may differentially impact risk for suicide ideation and suicide attempts, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non‐suicidal self‐injury (NSSI) is an increasing health concern. Despite the potential benefits of disclosing the behaviour, many decide not to do so because of the fear of negative social reactions. In this review, we examined the existing research on reported and perceived reactions to NSSI disclosure with the aim of identifying how an individual who discloses their NSSI perceives others' responses to this disclosure, with the ultimate goal of understanding how these reactions may impact those who disclose their NSSI. Among the initial 275 studies, 10 fit the inclusion criteria. Three studies reported perceived responses by individuals who had disclosed their NSSI; six studies examined self‐reported responses by others; one study focused on disclosures online. Individuals who disclosed their NSSI often received negative responses, which caused them to withdraw from seeking further help. On the other hand, recipients' reactions to NSSI disclosure varied based on NSSI characteristics such as its perceived cause and/or underlying motivation. Results highlight the importance of providing support rather than searching for the underlying drives of NSSI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]