Non-suicidal self-injury, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempt: Prevalence and predictors in a sample of youth offenders in the UK

The first aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of suicide attempts (SA), suicidal ideation (SI), as well as non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) within a sample of community-based youth offenders (M age = 15.33 years) engaging with an urban town Youth Offending Team (YOT). The second aim was to investigate whether trauma exposure, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomology, self-esteem, drug/alcohol abuse, criminal social identity (CSI), associations with criminal friends, and gender were significantly associated with SA, SI, and NSSI. Data were collected using self-report instruments, semi-structured interviews, and institutional records. Findings revealed the highest prevalence rates for NSSI (20.6%), followed by SI (12.7%), and SA (5.9%). Thirteen (12.7%) participants met, or exceeded, the threshold score for probable PTSD. Both SA and SI were significantly correlated with trauma exposure, self-esteem, and PTSD. NSSI formed significant associations with trauma, self-esteem, and gender. The present results offer further insight into the risk factors of SA, SI, and NSSI in an under-researched population, providing scope for development of effective interventions. The findings also highlight the need to screen for self-destructive impulses among youngsters in YOTs