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Adolescence is a very lively period, full of constant changes. In this period we frequently come across deliberate self-harm. In the management of adolescents who self-harm it is important to distinguish non-suicidal self-injurious behavior (NSSI) from suicidal behavior, because the former lacks suicidal intent. There are many risk factors that can attribute to NSSI, from age, sex, the social environment or their personality traits. Despite NSSI being a relatively frequent phenomenon in adolescence it is widely misunderstood. In most cases NSSI is a self contained behaviour that dissapears with time. In the management of NSSI in adolescence it is important to diagnose and treat underlying mental disorders, to prevent co-ocurring suicidality and the development of dependency mechanisms within NSSI itself.