OBJECTIVE: to describe the profile of case notifications and hospitalizations of intentional self-harm involving adolescents in Brazil. METHODS: this was a descriptive study with data from the Notifiable Health Conditions Information System (SINAN) (2011-2014) and the Brazilian National Health System Hospital Information System (SIH/SUS) (2007-2016) about intentional self-harm. RESULTS: there were 15,702 notifications, with predominance of the 15-19 years age group (76.4%), females (71.6%) and White race/skin color (58.3%); the home was the most frequent place of occurrence (88.5% among those 10-14 years old and 89.9% among those 15-19 years old); poisoning/intoxication was the most used method (76.6% and 78% in the 10-14 and 15-19 age groups, respectively); there were 12,060 hospitalizations, with a predominance of females (58.1%) and greater occurrence in Southeast Region (2.7 and 7.0 notifications/100,000 inhabitants in the 10-14 and 15-19 age groups, respectively). CONCLUSION: the results reinforce the need for health services to be sensitive to recording cases and providing care to these adolescents.