Interventions for self-harm are less effective for men, study shows

MedicalXpress | Apr 05, 2026

Researchers at City St George's, University of London have found that psychological interventions for self-harm appear to be more effective for females than males, raising concerns about how well current treatments meet the needs of men at high risk of suicide. In a systematic review and meta-analysis published in The Lancet Regional Health—Europe, the team analyzed 46 randomized controlled trials involving over 15,000 participants. The study is the first to specifically compare the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions (PSIs) for self-harm in males and females across both clinical and non-clinical settings. Psychosocial interventions mostly involve talking therapies (such as cognitive behavior therapy) or presenting information and support.