Factors Associated With Deliberate Self-Harm in Youth Involved With the Juvenile Legal System

INTRODUCTION Youth suicide is a significant public health concern. Deliberate self-harm (DSH) is a strong precursor to suicide, and our ability to intervene with self-harming youth at risk for suicidal behaviors is increasingly important.1,2 One population with higher rates of DSH is youth incarcerated in the juvenile legal system.3,4 Little is known about the risk for DSH and suicide in these youth, especially during the difficult period following incarceration as youth navigate the challenges associated with community reintegration.5,6 With over 30,000 youth incarcerated in the U.S. on any given day, this is a critical deficit in suicide prevention research.7 To address this gap and inform intervention, the current study investigates individual and clinical characteristics associated with DSH among youth previously incarcerated in a state juvenile correctional facility.