Singapore study reveals 1 in 4 young people have self-harmed

One in four Singaporeans aged 15 to 35 have engaged in deliberate self-harm at least once, researchers have found, with the behaviour especially prevalent among teenagers – highlighting mounting concerns about emotional distress and unhealthy coping strategies in younger age groups.

The findings, published in March, were drawn from a national study conducted by Singapore’s Institute of Mental Health (IMH) involving 2,600 respondents. It categorised behaviours such as cutting, burning, hitting or other forms of deliberate self-harm as non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI).

The median age that such self-harm starts is 14, while males typically have a second peak at around age 18, according to the study.

Roughly 11.6 per cent of respondents reported engaging in self-harm at least five times.

Cutting was the most prevalent form of self-injury, cited by about 13.5 per cent of respondents, followed by severe scratching, self-punching and headbanging.

Although NSSI is not formally classified as a mental disorder, experts have cautioned that it often reflects underlying psychological distress. Swapna Verma, chairman of IMH’s medical board, told The Straits Times that young people may turn to self-harm when overwhelmed by emotions they are unable to manage in healthier ways.