A prospective investigation of self-injury, suicidal ideation and psychological distress in Australian secondary school students

This study will test a theoretical model proposing bi-directional relationships between predisposing factors, resilience, self-injury and its correlates, using both cross-sectional and repeated measures longitudinal data collected over 3 years. This will be the first prospective study, world-wide, to focus on self-injury in community adolescents, and will further define the contribution of self-injury in pathways to suicidality. The project will clarify risk and protective factors to be utilised in prevention and early intervention programs which aim to improve the quality of life of Australian adolescents and prevent suicide.