Risk factors for self-harm

Risk factors for self-harm can include alcohol and certain family, personal and clinical incidents.

Self-harm and alcohol

Alcohol is involved in nearly 60% of episodes of self-harm that present to the emergency department.

And over a third of people who self-harm misuse alcohol or are alcohol dependant (Ness et al, 2015).

Other risk factors for self-harm

Background and family history:

• family history of suicide
• bereavement
• childhood abuse
• childhood neglect.

Physical and clinical history:

• history of self-harm
• substance misuse
• physical ill health
• mental ill health.

Factors that protect against self-harm include:

• hopefulness
• confidence in problem solving
• family connectedness
• social and community support.