Problem-Solving and Coping Skills Training for Youth with Deliberate Self-Harm Behaviors: A Scoping Review

Background: There has been an urgent need for the youths to be furnished with the capacity to apply the use of strategies such as problem- solving and coping skills in other to ameliorate their deliberate self-harming behavior inclinations. It is important to recognize the underlying emotional and psychological underpinnings of these self-harming behaviors. Methods: Three data bases; Scopus, Google Scholar advanced search, and PubMed, were searched using keywords such as “problem-solving,” “coping,” “youth,” and “deliberate self-harm.” The articles were then screened to ensure that they all met the inclusion criteria and only those published in the English language were selected and deliberate self-harm.” Result: Deliberate self-harm behaviors pose a substantial risk to the mental health of the individuals involved. Integrating emotional regulation and coping skills has been shown to improve mental health outcomes in these youths significantly. Problem-solving and coping skills programs have emerged as effective interventions for addressing deliberate self-harm behaviors in youth. Those who are engrossed in deliberate self-harm often struggle with problem-solving abilities and resort to maladaptive social problem-solving, such as self-harming, as a coping mechanism. Incorporating problem-solving techniques within therapy approaches can be an effective strategy to address deliberate self-harm behaviors and promote healthier coping mechanisms. Conclusions: There is the need for structured interventions to meet the unique and diverse need of the youths engaged in this act. Interventions can target the core issues, such as emotional dysregulation, interpersonal difficulties, or trauma history.