Mapping the Evidence of Prevention and Intervention Studies for Suicidal and Self-Harming Behaviors in Young People

Background: Suicide and self-harm (SSH) in young people is a major cause of disability-adjusted life years. Effective interventions are of critical importance to reducing the mortality and morbidity associated with SSH. Aims: To investigate the extent and nature of research on interventions to prevent and treat SSH in young people using evidence mapping. Method: A systematic search for SSH intervention studies was conducted (participant mean age between 6–25 years). The studies were restricted to high-quality evidence in the form of systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and controlled trials. Results: Thirty-eight controlled studies and six systematic reviews met the study inclusion criteria. The majority (n = 32) involved psychological interventions. Few studies (n = 9) involved treating young people with recognized mental disorders or substance abuse (n = 1) which also addressed SSH. Conclusion: The map was restricted to RCTs, CCTs, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses, and thus might have neglected impor...