This research explores two detrimental issues confronting an increasing number of young people: non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and outward-directed injury (ODI). Researchers and service providers often approach these behaviours in vastly differently ways. NSSI is understood as the direct and deliberate destruction of one’s own skin tissue, unsanctioned socially or culturally, occurring in the absence of suicidal intent. This behaviour is often associated with depressed or highly distressed females. Self-directed injury (SDI) of this type often evokes sympathy from others and can result in increased care and support for those engaging in these behaviours. Outward-directed injury (ODI) is a novel term explored through this study and intended to capture harmful behaviours which are directed externally or outward, potentially causing injury to another or damage to an object, seemingly in an aggressive act, with the intent to injure oneself. Examples of ODI include: wall- / object-punching, fighting or other aggressive acts. Stereotypically, ODI behaviours are more often associated with males and tend to be viewed with derision and punitive responses. NSSI and ODI both appear to be predicated by strong emotions and may be used to regulate these. The current study uses an established survey containing two well-validated measures to explore NZ respondents' engagement in and perceptions of these behaviours. Survey data is analysed according to gender, emotional distress, and behaviour functionality. Gender was found to play a significant role in both classes of behaviours with females endorsing SDI more frequently than males and males endorsing ODI more than females. This study also found that people who hurt themselves through either SDI or ODI report more psychological distress than those who do not engage in any self-injurious behaviour. This study also found those who engage in ODI are significantly more distressed than those who engage in SDI, whilst those with dual engagement (employing both SDI and ODI) are most distressed of all. Study findings also showed emotion regulation to be a primary function for both SDI and ODI engagement.