ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the literature that connects both nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) and previous suicide attempts to eventual death by suicide. It also discusses one current and prominent theory of suicide, the Interpersonal-Psychological Theory of Suicide (IPTS), which explains how these behaviors influence death by suicide. NSSI refers to self-harm that is independent of suicide intent. It is typically undertaken to reduce negative emotions or as a means of self-punishment. The chapter discusses what rehearsal looks like according to the words of those who have made a suicide attempt. It discusses the relationship between the method of attempted suicide and subsequent suicide, and the relationship between the frequencies of suicide attempts to death by suicide. Giner and colleagues investigated how violent and serious suicide attempts differed from less-serious and less-violent suicide attempts. Interestingly they found that those who used more violent methods also reported more suicide attempts, while those who used less violent methods were less likely to report multiple attempts.
