SELF-HARM AWARENESS MONTH
Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI)
Understanding Non-Suicidal Self-Injury
What is Self Injury
Self-injury is any deliberate, non-suicidal behavior that inflicts physical injury to your body. Self-injury is essentially a coping mechanism that may enable you to deal with intense emotional distress, creating a calming sensation. Or you may use self-injury to ‘awaken’ you when feeling numb or dissociated. The injuries may validate your feelings, creating a ‘real’ pain that is easier to cope.
Who Self-Injuries?
People from all walks of life, irrespective of age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity or personal strength.
What are some warning signs to look for?
- Unexplained, frequent injuries including cuts and bruises
- Wearing of long pants/sleeves in warm weather
- Low self-esteem
- Overwhelmed by feelings
- Inability to function at home or school
- Inability to maintain stable relationships
- Reluctance to dress out for P.E.
- Excuses such as "my cat scratched me"
What are some types of self-Injury
- Cutting
- Bruising
- Burning/Abrasions
- Headbanging
- Biting
- Hitting (Self/Object)
- Ingestion of Sharps/toxins
- Picking, and pulling skin and hair
- Excessive body piercing
- Bone-Breaking
- Marking
- Branding
- Scratching/Wound Interference
- Carving
Cutting and Self-harm: Non-Suicidal Self Injury (NSSI)
Who do I turn to?
- School Counselors/Social Worker
- Parents/Family Members
- School Nurse
- Teachers
- Coaches
- Friends
- Crisis Hotlines
SELF-HARM HOTLINE: 1-800-273-TALK or Text CONNECT to 741741
What are some Interventions?
- Stop, think, and evaluate the pros and cons of self-injury
- Engage in a physical task
- Soothe in a positive, non-injurious way
- Practice positive stress management
- Develop better social skills
- Squeeze ice-cube for 1 minute
- Snap wrist with a rubber band
- Take a cold bath
- Hospitalization
Treatment for Non-Suicidal Self-Injury