systematic review of school-based preventive interventions on non-suicidal self-injury: a call for advancements

Context: non-suicidal self-injury (nssi) is a significant concern among youth, particularly in schools, differing from suicidal self-harm in prevalence, frequency, and lethality. data sources: this study reviewed empirical literature on nssi in school settings using a narrative synthesis method, analyzing 8,655 entries from medline/pubmed, scopus, and web of science. study selection: after screening, four studies met the criteria, including three articles and one dissertation. preventive interventions were categorized as school curriculum or after-school activities, using quasi-experimental or randomized control trial designs. data extraction: the data focused on nssi outcomes from 1990 to april 2020, excluding studies with unclear non-suicidality definitions. results: findings indicated weak quality and effectiveness in current school-based preventive studies, though promising results were noted in terms of iatrogenic effect, feasibility, and secondary outcomes. conclusions: the field requires a multidimensional approach, including ehealth apps, parental involvement, diversity considerations, and nssi-focused theories.