Self-harm in adolescents and young adults

Acts of self-harm are important risk factors for suicide, regardless of whether there is intent to die. Adolescents (15-19 years old, n=131) and young adults (20-24 years old, n=91) were assessed between 2009-2018. There is a statistically significant association between aged 20-24 years old patients and depressive episode, respectively, patients aged 15-19 years old, and personality disorder (p=0.000). There was no statistical significance between the two groups, regarding the method of self-harm. The most cases of patients aged 20-24 years were hospitalized, probably due to the severe psychiatric symptomatology at these patients. Youth stage is a time when self-harm is the most common way of coping when confronting with negative feelings.