Long-Term Trends in Pediatric Self-Injury in High-Income Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Natasha Saunders1,2,3,4,5,6, Hallie Benjamin4, Petros Pechlivanoglou4,5

  • 1The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

JAMA Pediatrics
|March 16, 2026
PubMed
Summary

Self-injury rates are increasing annually among youth in high-income countries, particularly for females. This trend highlights the urgent need for effective prevention strategies to address rising self-harm incidents.

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