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The current study aimed to assess whether online suicide risk assessment affects state mood and is the first to examine if suicide‐related self‐stigma or coping related to suicidal ideation are predictors of mood change. The Australian participants (N = 661, Mage = 34.9, SD = 12.3, 57.1% female), recruited through a crowd‐sourcing platform, completed a visual analogue mood measure before and after the Suicidal Ideation Attributes Scale (SIDAS), an assessment tool. Followed by a modified version of the Internalised Stigma Scale, the Brief COPE and DASS‐21. State mood did not change from pre‐ to post‐suicide risk assessment in the overall sample, t(662) = −.16, p =.868, d = −.01. Contrary to hypotheses, neither self‐stigma nor coping were related to mood change following exposure to the SIDAS. The multiple regression model was not significant, F(9,643) = 1.16, p =.31., nor was any single predictor including gender, current Suicide risk β = −.04, t = −.80 or psychological distress β = −.09, t = −1.76, p =.08. These findings suggest that online exposure to a suicide risk tool is unlikely to be iatrogenic in relation to state mood, even in the context of elevated self‐stigma, suicidal ideation and psychological distress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying as LGBTQIA+ is associated with greater risk of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI); understanding why may aid in decreasing NSSI and associated risks in this vulnerable population. We examined discrimination, psychological distress, 'outness', resilience, and NSSI in 330 young adults (18-30) from the Australian LGBTQIA+ community. Individuals reporting NSSI reported more depression, anxiety and stress, and less resilience than those who had not engaged in NSSI. Perceived discrimination was not associated with NSSI engagement, however people identifying as queer reported more discrimination than other LGBTQIA+ participants. Additionally, not being 'out' in the workplace was associated with NSSI. Building resilience and social support within and for the LGBTQIA+ community may be beneficial in addressing LGBTQIA+ mental health and NSSI., Author(s): Caroline Watson [sup.1], Ruth Tatnell [sup.2] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.1002.3, 0000 0004 1936 7857, Monash Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neurosciences, Monash University, , Melbourne, Australia (2) grid.1021.2, 0000 [...]

Objectives: Suicide safety plans are a personalized means of documenting how a person at risk of suicide recognizes and intends to cope with emerging suicidal thoughts. This study aimed to understand how users of digital suicide safety plans describe their warning signs, methods of coping and any relationships between these that may emerge. Methods: A sample comprising 150 users of the Australian suicide safety planning smartphone app Beyond Now consented to share the content of their safety plans. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to identify themes in overall plan content. Most participants identified as women (61%), had a history of at least one suicide attempt (61%) and completed their plans by themselves (84%). Results: Three major themes emerged: (1) interpersonal challenges and complexity; (2) matching coping strategies to warning signs; and (3) helpful and harmful digital technology use. Most plans appeared to demonstrate high self‐awareness of warning signs and available supports. Conclusions: Safety plan content provides a window into the thought process underlying the recognition of suicidal thoughts and the attempts to manage them. An opportunity exists for practitioners and support persons to use this content when collaboratively supporting a safety plan user to improve their coping strategies and support networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Covid-19 global pandemic has meant large parts of the world's population have been isolated from others for often months at a time due to lockdown measures to stop the spread. The effects of isolation can be damaging and increase risk of self-injury (NSSI) and suicide. We examined the effects of the first Australian national lockdown on NSSI urges and behavior. We asked 345 people with current or past lived experience of NSSI both quantitative and qualitative questions about how their urges and behavior changed during lockdown and assessed how changes were related to demographic variables including work and living conditions. Women, socially disadvantaged and unemployed people were at greater risk of increased NSSI urges and behavior. Social connection was important, with both quantitative and qualitative responses indicating that for some, decreased social anxiety and social pressures was related to a reduction in NSSI, whereas for others the lack of social connection and engagement was associated with worsening urges and behaviors. Lockdown had mixed impacts on people with lived experience of NSSI, with most reporting no change or a decrease to urges and behavior, however, for socially disadvantaged people in particular, lockdown lead to worsening urges and behavior and even relapse. Future research might examine these effects longitudinally and with greater focus on intersectionality. Identified NSSI risk/protective factors, and an understanding of lived experience Lockdowns have mixed impacts, some people decreased, some increased NSSI Social connection plays an important role in NSSI engagement and reduction [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is commonly used by young adults to regulate emotional responses. Yet, experimental examination of how people who self-injure appraise and respond to emotional stimuli is limited. We examined appraisals of, and responses to, emotive images in young adults who did and did not self-injure, and assessed whether these were impacted by exposure to a stressor. Study 1 (N = 51) examined whether participants differed in their appraisals of emotional images. Study 2 (N = 78) assessed whether appraisals of images changed after exposure to the Trier Social Stress Test. Ratings of emotional valence and arousal were collected in both studies; skin conductance was measured as an indicator of physiological arousal in Study 2. In Study 1 participants reporting NSSI rated positively valenced images as less pleasant than participants not reporting NSSI. In Study 2, after acute stress, participants reporting NSSI displayed dampened physiological reactions to positive images whereas participants who did not self-injure displayed heightened physiological reactions to these and rated them as more pleasant. Individuals who self-injure seem less able to engage in strategic mood repair after exposure to stress compared to people who do not self-injure.

In this study we examined the relative risk of Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI) associated with a history of physical and sexual abuse/assault, poor attachment relationships, and poor emotion regulation among adolescents. A total of 2,637 adolescents (aged 12-15 years) completed questionnaires at 3 time-points: baseline, 12, and 24 months later. Across the study, 9.4% reported a history of NSSI. Each of past or recent abuse/assault, poor attachment relationships, and poor emotion regulation was associated with NSSI. We also observed a potential "high-risk" group among those reporting recent sexual abuse or assault. Knowledge of abuse history, recent sexual assault, attachment, and emotion regulatory ability will enable clinicians to assist adolescents in avoiding some of the more negative outcomes of these, including NSSI.