This article reviews recent literature to help understand what is known about self-cutting behaviour & its potential relationship to suicide as well as to provide direction for research. Research shows that different ecological factors at the individual, family, peer, & societal levels are related to deliberate self-harm. Although there is an association between some self-injurers & drug abuse as well as eating disorders, there are various subgroups of self-cutters & most are not at high risk for suicide. All acts of self-injury should be taken seriously by health care professionals & comprehensive therapy offered to any adolescent with a history of deliberate self-harm. (100 refs)