Citation

Heath NL, Baxter AL, Toste JR, McLouth R. Can. J. Sch. Psychol. 2010; 25(3): 260-276.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0829573510377979

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a prevalent behaviour among youth. School is an opportune setting for intervention with this population, but it is unknown how many youth who engage in NSSI would be willing to access school-based support. The current study surveyed 7,126 middle and high school students. Those that indicated that they engaged in NSSI (n = 654; 168 boys, 486 girls) responded to follow-up questions regarding the behaviour and willingness to participate in a school-based support program for NSSI. Self-injurers who responded that they would be willing to access help at school (n = 88; 13.5% of the sample) and a matched group of those who would not be willing were compared on a number of variables. Willingness to access school-based support did not differ by gender or ethnicity but differed between middle and high school students. On indices of NSSI and worries about safety, the adolescents willing to access support reported that they used more methods of injury as well as increased worries about safety in their neighbourhood and sexual harassment.