Table 1

Terms and definitions related to self-injurious thoughts and behaviours (SITB)

Self-Injurious thoughts and behaviours*Self-harm†Suicidal behaviour (SB)Death by suicide










Suicide attempt
Interrupted suicide attempt
Aborted suicide attempt
Preparatory act§
Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI)‡
Direct
Indirect
Thoughts of self-harm



Thoughts of NSSI‡
Suicidal ideation/thoughts (SI) or suicidality



Active SI with specific plan and intent¶
Active SI with some intent to act, without specific plan**
Active SI with Any Methods without Intent to Act††
Non-specific active suicidal thoughts‡‡
Wish to be dead§§
  • *Nock et al.119

  • †Does not differentiate suicidal from non-suicidal self-harm.120

  • ‡Our study will not focus on NSSI or thoughts of NSSI; these terms are shaded in grey as a result.

  • §Acts or preparation towards imminently making a suicide attempt (ie, anything beyond a verbalisation or thought, such as assembling a method or preparing for one’s death by suicide.

  • ¶Thoughts of killing oneself with details of plan fully or partially worked out and some intent to carry it out.

  • **Active suicidal thoughts of killing oneself and reported intent to act on such thoughts.

  • ††Thoughts of suicide and at least one method (but no specific time, place or method).

  • ‡‡General, non-specific thoughts of wanting to end one’s life, without thoughts of specific methods.

  • §§Thoughts regarding a wish to be dead or not alive, or a desire to fall asleep and not wake up.