Stephen R. Zubrick|Jennifer Hafekost|Sarah E. Johnson|David Lawrence|Suzy Saw|Michael Sawyer|John Ainley|William R. Buckingham
Self-harm: Prevalence estimates from the second Australian Child and Adolescent Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing
Telethon Kids Institute|University of Western Australia|Telethon Kids Institute|University of Western Australia|Telethon Kids Institute|University of Western Australia|Telethon Kids Institute|University of Western Australia|Act Health|University of Adelaide|Australian Council for Educational Research
1 estimate lifetime 12month prevalence selfharm without suicide intent young people aged 1217 years 2 describe comorbidity behaviours mental illness 3 describe covariation key social demographic variablesa nationally representative random sample households children aged 417 years recruited 20132014 survey response rate 55 6310 parents carers eligible households participating addition 2967 89 young people aged 1117 completed selfreport questionnaire 2653 12 17yearolds completing questions selfharm behaviourin 12month period 8 12 17yearolds estimated 137000 12 17yearolds report engaging selfharming behaviour without suicide intent prevalence increases age 116 16 17yearolds eighteen percent 188 95 confidence interval ci 145 230 12 17yearold young people mental health disorder measured parent carer report said engaged selfharm past 12 months among young people measured selfreport met criteria diagnostic statistical manual mental disorders major depressive disorder almost half 466 95 ci 400 531 also reported engaged selfharm past 12 months suicide risk among selfharm significantly elevated relative general populationthe demonstrated higher risks young people continued harm possible death support need ongoing initiatives reduce selfharm mental health promotion improved mental health literacy continuing mental health reform ensure services accessible meet needs families young persons