Publications - Self-Injury

Self-inflicted injuries surge among tween and early teen girls, by Susan Scutti, CNN, Feb 13 2018.

“Emergency room visits for non-fatal, self-inflicted injuries surged in recent years among US girls and young women, especially those between the ages of 10 and 14, according to a new study. However, rates of self-harm among boys and young men between the ages of 10 and 24 remained stable throughout the years 2001 through 2015, the researchers said. 'Suicide is preventable,' said Melissa C. Mercado, lead author of the study published Tuesday in JAMA and a behavioral scientist at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 'These findings underscore the need for the implementation of evidence-based, comprehensive suicide- and self-harm-prevention strategies.' ”

15 Behaviors We Don’t Always Recognize Are Self-Harm, by Juliette Virzi, 2018.

“When people talk about “self-harm,” they’re usually referring to self-mutilation behaviors like cutting. But cutting is not the only way people self-harm — in fact, sometimes self-harm doesn’t “look” like self-harm at all. Mighty contributor Catherine Renton wrote eloquently about this in her piece, “The Behavior I Didn’t Realize Was Actually Self-Harm.” Renton realized the casual sex she engaged in was actually a way she had been harming herself. She wrote, Self-harm isn’t always about causing physical pain. It’s continually tugging at that thread that will cause you to unravel. Sadly, what can start as fairly innocuous behavior can lead to more serious harm and even attempts at suicide. ”

Sharp rise seen in self-harm among young teen girls, by Shereen Lehman, Reuters, Nov 2 2017.

“Reports of self-harm jumped nearly 70 percent among younger teen girls in the UK between 2011 and 2014, suggesting an urgent need for interventions targeted to this group, researchers say...Almost 17,000 kids and teens had harmed themselves at least once, and about 73 percent were girls. Just over 84 percent of the incidents were drug overdoses and about 12 percent were self-cutting episodes. Between 2 percent and 3 percent poisoned themselves, and the remaining 1 percent of incidents involved hanging, suffocation, jumping and scalding. Roughly one in five of these kids harmed themselves again sometime during the year after their first episode, researchers found. ”

More Than 6 Million U.S. Students Are 'Chronically Absent', by Elissa Nadworny, NPR, Jun 10 2016.

“It's one of the oldest issues in school improvement: Getting kids to show up. If students miss 10 percent of the school year — that's just two days a month —research shows they are way more likely to fall behind — even drop out. Today, the U.S. Education Department is releasing a report on the first national data set on chronic absence — defined as missing 15 or more days of school a year. The numbers come from the 2013-2014 Civil Rights Data Collection survey — an on-the-ground look from 95,000 schools. The numbers are striking: More than 6 million kids are missing 15 days or more of school a year. ”

Cutting and Self-Harm, by Melinda Smith, M.A., Jeanne Segal, Ph.D., and Jennifer Shubin, Helpguide.org, May 2016.

“Self-harm can be a way of coping with problems. It may help you express feelings you can’t put into words, distract you from your life, or release emotional pain. Afterwards, you probably feel better—at least for a little while. But then the painful feelings return, and you feel the urge to hurt yourself again. If you want to stop but don’t know how, remember this: you deserve to feel better, and you can get there without hurting yourself. ”

Self-Injury and Recovery Research and Resources, by Cornell University College of Human Ecology, Cornell University College of Human Ecology, 2016.

“Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is the deliberate, self-inflicted destruction of body tissue resulting in immediate damage, without suicidal intent and for purposes not culturally sanctioned. ”

The Oxford Handbook of Suicide and Self-Injury, by Oxford University Press, Oxford Library of Psychology, 2014.

Adolescent Self-Harm, by Ann Hagell, Association for Young People's Health, Mar 2013.

“Self-harm is a particularly adolescent phenomenon. It does affect all age groups, but studies have consistently shown a peak in mid adolescence1 . The majority of people who self-harm are aged between 11 and 25 years.2 It is also a critical public health issue. It reflects and creates emotional distress. What do we know, and what can we do? ”

How to Recognize Teens at Risk for Self-Harm, by Janice Wood, Psych Central , Oct 6 2012.

“It's a startling statistic: Suicide is the third-leading cause of death for teens, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In response, a University of Missouri public health expert has identified factors that will help parents, medical professionals and educators recognize teens at risk for self injury and suicide. ”

Girls with ADHD and self-harm/suicide risk, by Traci Pedersen, Psych Central , Aug 16 2012.

“As girls with ADHD become adults, they are especially prone toward internalizing their problems and feelings of inadequacy--that in turn can lead to self-injury and even attempted suicide, according to new findings from the University of California, Berkeley. ”

Suicide Risk for Older People Who Self-Harm, by University of Manchester, University of Manchester, May 1 2012.

“Older people who self-harm are at much greater risk of suicide than both the general population and younger adults who self-harm, a new study has found. Researchers from The University of Manchester studied 1,177 people over the age of 60 who presented to six general hospitals in Oxford, Manchester and Derby after self-harming. ”

Self-harm in young people: information for parents, carers and anyone who works with young people, by Royal College of Psychiatrists’ Child and Family Public Education Editorial Board, Royal College of Psychiatrists, Mar 2012.

“This is one in a series of factsheets for parents, teachers and young people entitledMental Health and Growing Up. This factsheet looks at the reasons behind why people self-harm, and offers advice about what to do to help. Self-harm is a term used when someone injures or harms themselves on purpose rather than by accident. Common examples include `overdosing' (self-poisoning), hitting, cutting or burning oneself, pulling hair or picking skin, or self-strangulation. Self -harm is always a sign of something being seriously wrong. ”

Expert on Mental Illness Reveals Her Own Fight, by Benedict Carey, New York Times , Jun 23 2011.

“No one knows how many people with severe mental illness live what appear to be normal, successful lives, because such people are not in the habit of announcing themselves. They are too busy juggling responsibilities, paying the bills, studying, raising families - all while weathering gusts of dark emotions or delusions that would quickly overwhelm almost anyone else. Now, an increasing number of them are risking exposure of their secret, saying that the time is right. ”

Self-Injury Videos Popular With Teens, by Todd Neale, Med Page Today , Feb 21 2011.

“Videos posted online that feature self-injury are popular viewing among young adults and possibly teens - and some researchers worry that this may encourage copycat behaviors. ”

Helping Self-Harming Students, by Matthew D. Selekman, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development: Educational Leadership Health and Learning Archives, Jan 2010.

“Schools can reduce the likelihood of self-harming epidemics and manage student difficulties when they occur by following a few practical guidelines. Student self-harming is one of the most perplexing and challenging behaviors that administrators, teachers, nurses, and counseling staff encounter in their schools. Approximately 14 to 17 percent of children up to age 18 have deliberately cut, scratched, pinched, burned, or bruised themselves at least once (Whitlock, 2009), with 5 to 8 percent of adolescents actively engaging in this behavior (J. Whitlock, personal communication, September 27, 2009). ”