Sylvanna Mirichlis, PhD, and Stephen Lewis, PhD, talk all things Self-Injury Awareness Day (SIAD). We also share some of our favorite clips from past episodes for those new to the topic of self-harm. Season 5 | Episode 58 Podcast/ Season 5 | Episode 58 Self-Injury Awareness Day (March 1) Feb 28, 2025 with Drs. Sylvanna Mirichlis & Stephen Lewis Self-Injury Awareness Day (March 1) with Drs. Sylvanna Mirichlis & Stephen Lewis 00:00 / 01:04 In this episode, Dr. Sylvanna Mirichlis from Curtin University in Perth, Australia, and ISSS Past President Dr. Stephen Lewis from the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada share about the origins of the annual March 1st Self-Injury Awareness Day (SIAD), what people around the world are doing as part of this day, and what our ISSS Stigma, Recovery, and Lived Experience Special Interest Group is doing to boost awareness of self-injury. We also share some of our favorite clips from past episodes. Self-Injury Resources: International Society for the Study of Self-Injury (ISSS) ( https://itriples.org/ Self-injury Outreach & Support (SiOS) ( http://sioutreach.org/ ) Cornell's Self-Injury & Recovery Resources (SIRR) ( www.selfinjury.bctr.cornell.edu ) Shedding Light on Self-Injury ( https://www.self-injury.org.au/ ) Lewis, S. P., & Hasking, P. A. (2023). Understanding self-injury: A person-centered approach . Oxford University Press. To watch Dr. Lewis' TEDx talk about his own lived experience of self-injury on YouTube, visit https://youtu.be/G17iMOw0ar8 . Timestamps for clips from past episodes: 37:37 - Lived experience: Kirsty's story of self-injury & advocacy (Season 2, Episode 30) 43:41 - Psychologists with lived experience of self-injury, with Dr. Sarah Victor (Season 1, Episode 9) 45:25 - Self-injury stigma and language, with Dr. Penelope Hasking (Season 1, Episode 4) 48:26 - Lived experience: Thomas' story of self-injury & gender dysphoria (Season 4, Episode 48) 52:48 - Self-harm across cultures, with Dr. Marc Wilson (Season 2, Episode 24) 56:39 - The psychology of self-injury scarring, with Dr. Taylor Burke (Season 2, Episode 31) 1:01:52 - A dad & daughter discuss her lived experience of self-harm (Season 3, Episode 37) 1:15:15 - Parenting youth who self-injure, with Dr. Janis Whitlock (Season 1, Episode 3) 1:23:49 - Supporting siblings of individuals who self-harm, with Dr. Amy Lucas (Season 4, Episode 46) Previous Next

Home / Awards / Invited Fellow / Dr. Penelope A. Hasking Dr. Penelope A. Hasking Previous Dr. Penelope A. Hasking is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Curtin University (Australia). Her research focuses on the emotional, cognitive, and social factors that contribute to NSSI and related behaviors. She has played a central role in advancing emotion regulation models of self-injury and in developing prevention and intervention programs that are both evidence-based and sensitive to the needs of young people. Dr. Hasking’s work also highlights the importance of understanding social connectedness, self-compassion, and help-seeking behavior. She is known for her thoughtful mentorship, scientific rigor, and her dedication to making psychological research meaningful and applicable in everyday life. Her work stands out for its clarity, empathy, and commitment to real-world impact. Next ISSS Fellow | 2025

About Self-Injury Talking About Self-Injury Resources / About Self-Injury / Talking About Self-Injury "Adopt respectful curiosity" The language we use to talk about people and the behaviours they engage in is powerful. Language is the medium we use to communicate our understanding of the world, to establish social structures, define cultures, and establish meaning to phenomena and people. Language shapes the way we view the world and our place in it. The language that is commonly used when talking about NSSI and people with lived experience of NSSI is often derogatory, can perpetuate myths and foster stigma, and can make people with lived experience feel even more misunderstood and isolated. Conversely, adopting a "respectful curiosity" and being conscious of using respectful language can open the way for helpful conversations and encourage support seeking. Top Tips Always be respectful when talking about NSSI, or people with a lived experience of NSSI Poorly-considered language can exacerbate stigma among people who already feel highly stigmatised Avoid language that defines a person by their behaviour (e.g., “cutter”; “self-injurer”) Avoid language that is value-laden (e.g., good/bad), or propagates stigma (e.g., attention-seeking) Use of appropriate language can foster open communication and facilitate support-seeking Check out specific guidelines for members of the media in reporting on and writing about NSSI. References Hasking, P., & Boyes, M. (2018). Cutting words: A commentary on language and stigma in the context of nonsuicidal self-injury. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease , 206 , 829-833. https://doi.org/10.1097/nmd.0000000000000899 Hasking, P., Lewis, S. P., & Boyes, M. E. (2019). When language is maladaptive: Recommendations for discussing self-injury. Journal of Public Mental Health , 18 , 148-152. https://doi.org/10.1108/JPMH-01-2019-0014 Lewis, S. P. (2017). I cut therefore I am? Avoiding labels in the context of self-injury. Medical Humanities , 43 , Article 204. https://doi.org/10.1136/medhum-2017-011221

Sarah Swannell, PhD, a psychologist in private practice in Australia and Lecturer at the University of Queensland discusses the prevalence and characteristics of self-injury and self-harm among individuals over age 40. Season 2 | Episode 27 Podcast/ Season 2 | Episode 27 Self-Injury Over Age 40 Jul 29, 2022 with Dr. Sarah Swannell Self-Injury Over Age 40 with Dr. Sarah Swannell 00:00 / 01:04 What is the prevalence of self-injury among adults over age 40? And what differentiates those who report having stopped self-injuring from those who continue to self-injure? How do they differ from those under age 25 who self-injure, including related to suicidal thoughts and behaviors? In this episode, psychologist Dr. Sarah Swannell from Australia discusses the prevalence of self-injury and self-harm among individuals over age 40 and stigma around the behavior. Learn more about Dr. Swannell and her work at https://sarahswannell.com.au/ . Below are links to some of her research referenced in this episode: Martin, G., & Swannell, S. (2016). Non-suicidal self-injury in the over 40s: Results from a large national epidemiological survey . Epidemiology, 6 (5), 266. Martin, G., Swannell, S. V., Hazell, P. L., Harrison, J. E., & Taylor, A. W. (2010). Self-injury in Australia: a community survey . Medical Journal of Australia, 193 (9), 506-510. (Australian National Epidemiological Study of Self-Injury [ANESSI]) Troya, M. I., Dikomitis, L., Babatunde, O. O., Bartlam, B., & Chew-Graham, C. A. (2019). Understanding self-harm in older adults: A qualitative study . EClinical Medicine, 12 , 52-61. Follow Dr. Westers on Instagram and Twitter (@DocWesters). To join ISSS, visit itriples.org and follow ISSS on Facebook and Twitter (@ITripleS). The Psychology of Self-Injury podcast has been rated #5 by Feedspot in their " Best 20 Clinical Psychology Podcasts " and by Welp Magazine in their " 20 Best Injury Podcasts ." Previous Next

Lotte Rubæk, MSc, from Denmark discusses the role of social media among individuals who self-injure as well as why she resigned from her role on Meta's (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp) self-harm global expert panel. Season 4 | Episode 50 Podcast/ Season 4 | Episode 50 Social Media, Meta, & Self-Injury Jun 28, 2024 with Lotte Rubæk Social Media, Meta, & Self-Injury with Lotte Rubæk 00:00 / 01:04 In this episode, Lotte Rubæk, MSc, who leads the Self-Injury Team in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in the Capital Region of Denmark, talks about why interaction on image-based social media platforms like Instagram can be particularly appealing to young people who self-harm. She discusses the dynamics that can arise between users in the more closed social media networks, and she explains why she so publicly resigned from Meta's global expert panel on self-harm after serving on it for 3.5 years. Connect with Lotte on LinkedIn here , and read The Guardian's article about her decision to resign from Meta here . Listen to her podcast, Selvskadens Psykologi , which means The Psychology of Self-Injury in Danish, here . Read about the U.S. Surgeon General's May 2023 advisory about the effects social media use has on youth mental health here , and read about his June 2024 call on Congress to require warning labels on social media platforms and their effects on young people’s lives here . Below are Lotte's two book chapters in the new Oxford Handbook of Nonsuicidal Self-Injury and a few additional papers related to social media and self-injury: Rubæk, L., & Møhl, B. (2023). Direct and indirect self-injury . In E. E. Lloyd-Richardson, I. Baetens, & J. Whitlock (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of nonsuicidal self-injury (pp. 41-71). Oxford University Press. Møhl, B., & Rubæk, L. (2023). Understanding the link between direct and indirect self-injurious behavior . In E. E. Lloyd-Richardson, I. Baetens, & J. Whitlock (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of nonsuicidal self-injury (pp. 680-701). Oxford University Press. Westers, N. J., Lewis, S. P., Whitlock, J., Schatten, H. T., Ammerman, B., Andover, M. S., & Lloyd-Richardson, E. E.(2021). Media guidelines for the responsible reporting and depicting of non-suicidal self-injury . The British Journal of Psychiatry, 219 (2), 415-418. Zhu, L., Westers, N. J.,Horton, S. E., King, J. D., Diederich, A., Stewart, S. M., & Kennard, B. D. (2016). Frequency of exposure to and engagement in nonsuicidal self-injury among inpatient adolescents . Archives of Suicide Research, 20 (4), 580-590. Bridge, J. A., Greenhouse, J. B., Ruch, D., Stevens, J., Ackerman, J., Sheftall, A. H., Horowitz, L. M., Kelleher, K. J., & Campo, J. V. (2020). Association between the release of Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why and suicide rates in the United States: An interrupted time series analysis . Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 59 (2), 236-243. Previous Next

Drs. Greg Lengel, Maria Zetterqvist, Amy Brausch, and Jason Washburn explain why they now advocate for nonsuicidal self-injury and self-harm to be considered a clinical specifier rather than a disorder in the Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). Season 5 | Episode 64 Podcast/ Season 5 | Episode 64 DSM Update: Nonsuicidal Self-Injury Disorder, or a Clinical Specifier? Aug 29, 2025 DSM Update: Nonsuicidal Self-Injury Disorder, or a Clinical Specifier? 00:00 / 01:04 In this episode, four of the top experts in researching and treating nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) talk about the research behind NSSI Disorder, the evolution of how they now think about NSSI within the context of the DSM, and why they now advocate for an NSSI specifier rather than an NSSI Disorder in the DSM. They also delineate their proposed criteria for self-harm as a specifier and both the positive and negative consequences of doing so. Below are papers referenced in this episode: Lengel, G. J., Muehlenkamp, J. J., Zetterqvist, M., Ammerman, B. A., Brausch, A. M., & Washburn, J. J. (2025). Non-suicidal self-injury: proposal to shift designation from disorder to a clinical specifier . The Lancet Psychiatry . Online advanced publication. Shaffer, D., & Jacobson, C. (2009). Proposal to the DSM-V childhood disorder and mood disorder work groups to include non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) as a DSM-V disorder . American Psychiatric Association , 1-21. Muehlenkamp, J. J. (2005). Self-injurious behavior as a separate clinical syndrome . American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 75 (2), 324–333. Brausch, A. (2019). Diagnostic classification of nonsuicidal self-injury . In J. J. Washburn (Ed.), Nonsuicidal self-injury: Advances in research and practice (pp. 71-87). Routledge. NONSUICIDAL SELF-INJURY SPECIFIER (PROPOSED CRITERIA): A. The specifier should be used when the nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) behavior is characterized by the following: The individual intentionally engages in NSSI behavior to inflict bodily damage or pain The individual's NSSI behavior is recent, such that it occurred at least once during the past month The individual’s NSSI behavior is repetitive, such that it occurred on about 5 or more days in an individual’s lifetime Note: culturally specific NSSI behavior (e.g., piercings and tattoos) and harm that is habitual (e.g., scab picking, nail biting, and hair pulling) should not be considered to be NSSI unless the behavior is explicitly for the purposes of causing damage or pain to one’s body. The NSSI specifier can still be applied if the behavior occurs under the influence of substances, as long as the behavior meets the required features. Coding note: use code Z91.52 for individuals with a previous history of NSSI when all criteria except for recency are met (A2). Previous Next

Home / Awards / Invited Fellow / Dr. Nancy L. Heath Dr. Nancy L. Heath Previous Dr. Nancy L. Heath is a Professor of Educational and Counselling Psychology at McGill University (Canada). Her research examines resilience, emotion regulation, and self-injury in adolescents and young adults, with a focus on the school context. Dr. Heath has been a leader in promoting supportive educational environments for students coping with mental health challenges, emphasizing prevention, early intervention, and destigmatization. Her work bridges psychology and education, helping teachers, counselors, and peers respond with understanding and care. As a founding member of ISSS, Dr. Heath is deeply valued for her compassionate leadership, her mentorship of young researchers, and her steadfast advocacy for youth mental health. Next ISSS Fellow | 2023

Biological Research in NSSI Collaboration / Special Interest Groups / Biological Research in NSSI Uncovering Underlying Mechanisms More information on the Biological Research in NSSI Special Interest Group to come! Our Mission More information on the Biological Research in NSSI Special Interest Group to come! More information on the Biological Research in NSSI Special Interest Group to come! More information on the Biological Research in NSSI Special Interest Group to come! Discover More More information on the Biological Research in NSSI Special Interest Group to come! Representative/s of Biological Research in NSSI

ISSS Rising Stars About /Awards / ISSS Rising Stars Recognizing Potential ISSS Rising Stars are dedicated early-career researchers, clinicians, or advocates whose work demonstrates potential and commitment to make a significant contribution to the field and to the lives of people with lived experience. 2023 Rising Star Read more Dr Kathryn Fox Dr Fox is an Assistant Professor in the clinical child psychology Ph.D. Program at the University of Denver, where she also directs the Fox Lab in the Department of Psychology. Rising Stars of ISSS 2022 Dr. Glenn Kiekens Dr. Kiekens is as an Assistant Professor in Clinical Psychology at Tilburg University (Netherlands) and Senior Research Fellow at KU Leuven (Belgium). Read more...

Rachel Acheson, PhD, and Maria Papadima, PhD, from the Association of Child Psychotherapists in London describe how today's "adolescent crisis," including self-injury and self-harm, is often expressed through mental health language. Season 3 | Episode 39 Podcast/ Season 3 | Episode 39 Youth Crisis, Self-Harm, & Mental Health Language Jul 28, 2023 with Drs. Rachel Acheson & Maria Papadima Youth Crisis, Self-Harm, & Mental Health Language with Drs. Rachel Acheson & Maria Papadima 00:00 / 01:04 Amidst a global youth mental health crisis, is it possible that many young people are experiencing adolescent development challenges but are using mental health language to describe their distress? Even to the degree of experiencing crises that include self-harm like nonsuicidal self-injury and suicidal thoughts and behaviors? In this episode, Drs. Maria Papadima and Rachel Acheson share observations from their clinical work with youth, consider trends such as self-diagnosing through TikTok and Instagram, discuss how they walk parents and youth through these mental health crises, and offer a psychoanalytic perspective of current trends. Learn more about Dr. Papadima and her work at www.mariapapadima.com , and read her blog about "Self-diagnosis via TikTok" here . Below is the reference and link to their paper discussed in this episode: Acheson, R., & Papadima, M. (2023). The search for identity: Working therapeutically with adolescents in crisis . Journal of Child Psychotherapy, 49 (1), 95-119. Follow Dr. Westers on Instagram and Twitter (@DocWesters). To join ISSS, visit itriples.org and follow ISSS on Facebook and Twitter (@ITripleS). The Psychology of Self-Injury podcast has been rated #1 by Feedspot in their list of " 10 Best Self Harm Podcasts " and #5 in their " 20 Best Clinical Psychology Podcasts ." It has also been featured in Audible's " Best Mental Health Podcasts to Defy Stigma and Begin to Heal ." Previous Next

Jennifer Hughes, PhD, MPH, from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, describes Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) as an intervention for nonsuicidal self-injury and self-harm. Season 1 | Episode 19 Podcast/ Season 1 | Episode 19 Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) for Self-Harm Nov 5, 2021 with Dr. Jenny Hughes Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) for Self-Harm with Dr. Jenny Hughes 00:00 / 01:04 Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) has been lauded as an evidence-based treatment for addressing suicidal and nonsuicidal thoughts and behaviors. In this episode, Dr. Jenny Hughes explains what DBT is, describes what "dialectical" means, and walks us through how each of the four modules of DBT can be used to address nonsuicidal self-injury and self-harm: (1) Emotion Regulation, (2) Distress Tolerance, (3) Interpersonal Effectiveness, and (4) Mindfulness. She also provides an update on the science behind DBT, including what aspects of the treatment are thought to be most effective in addressing self-injury. To learn more about DBT and opportunities for training in DBT as referenced in this episode, visit Behavioral Tech at https://behavioraltech.org/ . Learn more about Dr. Hughes' work at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center here , and follow her on Twitter at @DrJennyHughes . Watch her 2018 TEDx talk on Resilience: Growth Through Struggle at www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nr44v2__zrU . Below are links to some of her research on DBT among youth: Editorial: Dialectical Behavior Therapy and the Function of Self-Injury (2021) (1) Efficacy of dialectical behavior therapy for adolescents at high risk for suicide: a randomized clinical trial (2018) (2) Predictors and moderators of recurring self-harm in adolescents participating in a comparative treatment trial of psychological interventions (2019) (3) Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Suicidal Self-Harming Youth: Emotion Regulation, Mechanisms, and Mediators (2021). Follow Dr. Westers on Instagram and Twitter (@DocWesters). To join ISSS, visit itriples.org and follow ISSS on Facebook and Twitter (@ITripleS). The Psychology of Self-Injury podcast has been rated #5 by Feedspot in their " Top 15 Clinical Psychology Podcasts You Must Follow in 2021 " and by Welp Magazine in their " 20 Best Injury Podcasts of 2021 ." Previous Next

Kirsty Hird, PhD, from The Kids Research Institute Australia explains in depth why people self-injure or self-harm according to six specific theoretical models of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI). Season 5 | Episode 62 Podcast/ Season 5 | Episode 62 Why Do People Self-Injure? Part 2 Jun 27, 2025 with Dr. Kirsty Hird Why Do People Self-Injure? Part 2 with Dr. Kirsty Hird 00:00 / 01:04 Dr. Kirsty Hird, a Research Officer in the Youth Mental Health team at The Kids Research Institute Australia, adds to Episode 1 of The Psychology of Self-Injury podcast by explaining in depth and in layman's terms why people self-injure according to the six most common/popular theoretical models. Connect with Dr. Hird on LinkedIn here , view her staff profile here , and follow her on ResearchGate here . Below are two of her papers related to today's interview as well as a few other resources referenced in this episode: Hird, K., Hasking, P., & Boyes, M. (2023). A comparison of the theoretical models of NSSI . In E.E. Lloyd-Richardson, I. Baetens, & J. Whitlock (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of nonsuicidal self-injury (pp. 24-40). Oxford University Press. Hird, K., Hasking, P., & Boyes, M. (2022). Relationships between outcome expectancies and non-suicidal self-injury: Moderating roles of emotion regulation difficulties and self-efficacy to resist self-injury . Archives of Suicide Research, 26 (4), 1688-1701. Gray, N., Uren, H., Pemberton, E., & Boyes, M. (2023). Profiling ambivalence in the context of nonsuicidal self-injury . Journal of Clinical Psychology, 79(8) , 1699-1712. Ramsey, W. A., Berlin, K. S., Del Conte, G., Lightsey, O. R., Schimmel-Bristow, A., Marks, L. R., & Strohmer, D. C. (2021). Targeting self-criticism in the treatment of nonsuicidal self-injury in dialectical behavior therapy for adolescents: a randomized clinical trial . Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 26 (4), 320-330. Gratz, K., & Tull, M. (2025). Acceptance-based emotion regulation therapy: A clinician’s guide to treating emotion dysregulation and self-destructive behaviors using an evidence-based therapy drawn from ACT and DBT . Harbinger Press. Below are links to the original 6 theoretical models discussed in this episode: Four Function Model - Nock, M. K., & Prinstein, M. J. (2004). A functional approach to the assessment of self-mutilative behavior . Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 72 (5), 885–890. Experiential Avoidance Model - Chapman, A. L., Gratz, K. L., & Brown, M. Z. (2006). Solving the puzzle of deliberate self-harm: The experiential avoidance model . Behaviour Research and Therapy, 44 (3), 371–394. Emotional Cascade Model - Selby, E. A., & Joiner, T. E. (2009). Cascades of emotion: The emergence of borderline personality disorder from emotional and behavioral dysregulation . Review of General Psychology, 13 (3), 219–229. Integrated Model - Nock, M. K. (2010). Self-injury . Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 6 (1), 339–363. Cognitive-Emotional Model - Hasking, P., Whitlock, J., Voon, D., & Rose, A. (2017). A cognitive-emotional model of NSSI: Using emotion regulation and cognitive processes to explain why people self-injure . Cognition and Emotion, 31 (8), 1543–1556. Barriers and Benefits Model - Hooley, J. M., & Franklin, J. C. (2018). Why do people hurt themselves? A new conceptual model of nonsuicidal self-injury . Clinical Psychological Science, 6 (3), 428–451. Previous Next