Incidence and prognostic factors of self-harm and subsequent unnatural death in South Africa: A cohort study
Self-harm is common among beneficiaries of South African private medical insurance, with the highest risk in young females and individuals with mental disorders. These groups may benefit from targeted screening and early intervention. Non-fatal self-harm was a strong predictor of subsequent unnatural death, underscoring the need for suicide-specific brief interventions for individuals presenting with self-harm.
Authors
- Stephan Rabie (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5464-0746)
- Soraya Seedat (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5118-786X)
- Yann Ruffieux (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0891-2448)
- Naomi Folb (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2667-0956)
- Sarah A. Bennett (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6644-4929)
- Mpho Tlali (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0283-2022)
- Mary‐Ann Davies (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8496-6475)
- Gary Maartens (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3080-6606)
- Morna Cornell (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7149-8799)
- Veronika Skrivankova (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0932-4792)
- John A. Joska (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4260-1181)
- Chido Chinogurei (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1560-7580)
- Matthias Egger (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7462-5132)
- Andreas D. Haas (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4849-181X)
- Aimee Wesso (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4851-0806)
Institutions
- South African Medical Research Council (ZA)
- University of Bern (CH)
- University of Cape Town (ZA)
- University of Zurich (CH)
- University of Bristol (GB)
- University Hospital of Zurich (CH)
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (CH)
Publication Details
- Journal
- PLoS Medicine
- Published
- 2025-09-26
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1004765
- Citations
- 2
- Primary Topic
- Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 4.61