About Self-Injury

Resources /About Self-Injury

Facts & figures, information & insights

Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI, self-injury) is the deliberate, self-directed damage of body tissue without suicidal intent and for purposes not socially or culturally sanctioned.

Self-injury is a complex behaviour that can be difficult to understand. Below, we have compiled a series of fact sheets to build awareness and knowledge of NSSI.

What is Self-Injury?

There are several key elements to how ISSS defines self-injury...

Who Self-Injures and Why?

People of all ages, genders, sexualities, ethnicities, and social classes self-injure...

What are the Impacts of Self-Injury?

Self-injury can have varied short- and long-term impacts...

Treatments for Self-Injury

Although there is currently no “gold-standard” treatment for self-injury, several treatments show promise...

Self-Injury and Suicide

The relationship between NSSI and suicide is complex...

Recovery and Ambivalence

Recovery for self-injury can mean different things to different people...

Is NSSI a Disorder?

The short answer is no, but it's complicated...

Talking About Self-Injury

The language we use to talk about people and the behaviours they engage in is powerful...