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Two paragraph summary Research on Self-Injury in Daily Life Dr Glenn Kiekens Two paragraph summary Previous Next Featured Member Home / Special Interest Groups / Research on Self-Injury in Daily Life / Member Spotlights Question Answer

NSSI Measures Resources / NSSI Measures Towards Field Consistency Measuring and assessing non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is complex and various measuring systems have been created. To facilitate the use of reliable and validated measures, the ISSS has established a repository of measures available to ISSS members. Assessment tools listed below are included with the permission of the authors. If there is a measure you think should be added to this list, please suggest it! Suggest a Measure Functional Assessment of Self-Mutilation Lloyd et al., 1997 FASM Inventory of Statements About Self-Injury Klonsky & Glenn, 2009 ISAS Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviours Interview - Revised Nock et al., 2007 SITBI-R Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviours Interview - Short Form Nock et al., 2007 SITBI-SF The Ottawa Self-Injury Inventory Nixon et al., 2015 OSI The Screen for Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Halverson et al., 2022 SNSI

Janis Whitlock, PhD, from Cornell University and Senior Advisor for The JED Foundation explains what parents and caregivers should look for if they suspect their child is engaging in self-injury. She also discusses how caregivers can effectively talk to their child about self-injury and self-harm and when to seek therapy. Season 1 | Episode 3 Podcast/ Season 1 | Episode 3 Parenting Youth Who Self-Injure Jan 1, 2021 with Dr. Janis Whitlock Parenting Youth Who Self-Injure with Dr. Janis Whitlock 00:00 / 01:04 If you suspect that your child might be engaging in self-injury, how do you start the conversation and how often should you check in with your child so that you are not being too invasive? How can parents safely set rules if they fear their child might self-injure in response to these rules? In this episode, we answer these questions and more as we talk about how parents and loved ones can foster healing for their children who self-injure or self-harm as well as for themselves. Dr. Whitlock’s book “Healing Self-Injury: A Compassionate Guide for Parents and Other Loved Ones” is available on Amazon ( www.amazon.com/Healing-Self-Injury-Compassionate-Guide-Parents/dp/0199391602 ). Dr. Whitlock is a Research Scientist in the Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research at Cornell University and the founder and director of the Self-Injury & Recovery Resources (SIRR) research program, which serves as one of the best and most comprehensive collations of online resources about self-injury: www.selfinjury.bctr.cornell.edu . It is a go-to resource for parents, therapists, friends, family members, schools, other caring adults, the media, and individuals with lived experience of self-injury. Follow them on Instagram @cornell_crpsir. Dr. Whitlock is also Senior Advisor for The JED Foundation . To learn more about The JED Foundation, visit https://www.jedfoundation.org/ . Follow Dr. Westers on Instagram and Twitter (@DocWesters). To join ISSS, visit itriples.org and follow ISSS on Facebook and Twitter (@ITripleS). Previous Next

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

Thomas from Ontario, Canada shares his story of lived experience of self-injury and gender dysphoria, including how self-harm evolved for him over time as a transgender man. Season 4 | Episode 48 Podcast/ Season 4 | Episode 48 Lived Experience: Thomas' Story of Self-Injury & Gender Dysphoria Apr 26, 2024 Lived Experience: Thomas' Story of Self-Injury & Gender Dysphoria 00:00 / 01:04 Approximately 47% of transgender adults and 55.7% of transgender and non-binary youth report having engaged in nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) at some point in their life. In this episode, Thomas details his experience of self-harm beginning at age 12, how his self-injury evolved over time, and how it related to his gender dysphoria. He also discusses dissociation as a relatively constant function (i.e., reason) of his self-injury and what happened when he fully transitioned as a man. Previous Next

ISSS Rising Star Nomination Form Nomination deadline: March 15, 2026 ISSS Rising Star Award The ISSS Rising Star Award recognizes an early-career researcher, clinician, or advocate whose work demonstrates strong potential and commitment to advancing the field of self-injury. Eligibility Research: Ph.D. awarded within the past five years Significant publications and contributions to the field of self-injury Clinical: Began clinical practice within the past five years Commitment to evidence-based NSSI treatment and dissemination of best practices Advocacy: Began advocacy work within the past five years Engagement in outreach, stigma reduction, public education, and/or policy initiatives Nomination Process Nominations may be submitted by any ISSS member except the nominee (i.e., no self-nominations) Two letters of support are required (including one from the nominee); at least one letter must be from someone other than the nominee’s supervisor (note: letters must not exceed two pages) The nominee’s CV must be submitted for review Selection Normally, one awardee is selected per year, with no more than one per category (researcher, clinician, advocate) Candidates are evaluated on: Quality of work Emerging impact in research, clinical, advocacy, and/or policy domains Emerging recognition within the field and among key stakeholders Award Details The award includes a certificate presented at the ISSS conference, recognition on the ISSS website, an invited conference presentation, and participation in an ISSS podcast. If you have any questions, please reach out to Glenn Kiekens ( g.kiekens@tilburguniversity.edu ). Submitter's first name Submitter's last name Submitter's email address Submitter's ISSS membership status* I am currently an ISSS member I am not currently an ISSS member Nominee's first name Nominee's last name Nominee's email address Under which category does the nominee best fall?* Researcher Clinician Advocate Letter(s) of support (at least one from a non-supervisor of the nominee)* Upload File Letter of support from nominee* Upload File Nominee's CV* Upload File Submit

Brianna Turner, PhD, from the University of Victoria in Canada explains why the boundaries between various forms of self-harm and self-injury may be less clear than implied by research and definitions. Season 3 | Episode 43 Podcast/ Season 3 | Episode 43 Where Does Self-Injury Fit Within Self-Damaging Behaviors? Nov 24, 2023 with Dr. Brianna Turner Where Does Self-Injury Fit Within Self-Damaging Behaviors? with Dr. Brianna Turner 00:00 / 01:04 The term "self-harm" is an umbrella term, encompassing a broad range of behaviors, under which is included substance abuse and misuse, eating disorders, suicide, and nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI). In this episode, Dr. Brianna Turner from the University of Victoria in British Columbia, Canada discusses how often self-damaging behaviors, including risky sex, financial and physical recklessness, co-occur with NSSI and where NSSI fits within the umbrella of self-harming behaviors. She also simplifies research using structural models of self-damaging behaviors in a way that helps us understand the co-occurrences of potentially harmful coping behaviors. Learn more about Dr. Turner and her work in the Risky Behaviour Lab at the University of Victoria here , and access many of her publications at https://uvic.academia.edu/BriannaTurner . Follow Dr. Turner on Twitter/X ( @BriannaT_Psyc ) and connect with the Risky Behaviour Lab on Instagram ( @riskybehaviourlab_uvic ) and Twitter/X ( @RBL_UVic ), especially if you are interested in participating in NSSI research. Below are the structural models of self-damaging behaviors discussed in this episode: St. Germain, S. A., & Hooley, J. M. (2012). Direct and indirect forms of non-suicidal self-injury: Evidence for a distinction . Psychiatry Research, 197 (1-2), 78-84. Green, J. D., Hatgis, C., Kearns, J. C., Nock, M. K., & Marx, B. P. (2017). The Direct and Indirect Self-Harm Inventory (DISH): A new measure for assessing high-risk and self-harm behaviors among military veterans . Psychology of Men & Masculinity, 18 (3), 208–214. Bresin, K. (2020). Toward a unifying theory of dysregulated behaviors . Clinical Psychology Review, 80 , 101885. Kotov, R., Krueger, R. F., Watson, D., Achenbach, T. M., Althoff, R. R., Bagby, R. M., . . . Zimmerman, M. (2017). The Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP): A dimensional alternative to traditional nosologies . Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 126 (4), 454–477. Barlow, D. H., et al. (2017). Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders: Therapist Guide (2nd ed.) . Oxford University. Ehrenreich-May, J., et al. (2018). Unified Protocols for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders in Children and Adolescents: Therapist Guide . Oxford University. Follow Dr. Westers on Instagram and Twitter/X (@DocWesters). To join ISSS, visit itriples.org and follow ISSS on Facebook and Twitter/X (@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 ." If you or someone you know should be interviewed on the podcast, we want to know! Please fill out this form, and we will be in touch with more details if it’s a good fit. Previous Next

Sarah Victor, PhD, from Texas Tech University discusses the prevalence of self-injury among psychologists and psychology graduate students, how psychologists with and without lived experience of self-injury can appropriately provide therapy to clients and supervision to trainees with a history of self-injury, and how individuals with lived experience of self-injury can be involved in teaching and research on self-injury and self-harm. Season 1 | Episode 9 Podcast/ Season 1 | Episode 9 Psychologists with Lived Experience of Self-Injury Mar 26, 2021 with Dr. Sarah Victor Psychologists with Lived Experience of Self-Injury with Dr. Sarah Victor 00:00 / 01:04 How many psychologists have lived experience of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI)? What biases should mental health professionals with and without a history of self-injury keep in mind when treating or supervising someone who has lived experience? In this episode, Dr. Victor shares preliminary data that she has just begun analyzing regarding the prevalence rates of mental health difficulties and self-injury among psychologists and psychology graduate students. She provides guidance about how mental health professionals can provide appropriate care to therapy clients and supervision to trainees who have lived experience of self-injury and self-harm. She also discusses how individuals with lived experience can be involved in research and teaching. Learn more about Dr. Victor and her work in the Tracking Risk Over Time Lab (TRTL) at https://www.depts.ttu.edu/psy/people/svictor/ and her website at https://www.sarahevictor.com/ . Follow her on Twitter @sarahevictor . Below are links to some of her research and the resources referenced in this episode: Psychologists with lived experience of non-suicidal self-injury: Priorities, obstacles, and recommendations for inclusion (click here for the free version of the author's manuscript) LiveThroughThis.org Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (Canadian Institutes of Health Research) Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) ClinicalTrials.gov Follow Dr. Westers on Instagram and Twitter (@DocWesters). To join ISSS, visit itriples.org and follow ISSS on Facebook and Twitter (@ITripleS). Previous Next

Stephen Lewis, PhD, & Penelope Hasking, PhD, introduce a new way of thinking about self-injury, self-harm, and recovery. Season 3 | Episode 36 Podcast/ Season 3 | Episode 36 Self-Injury Recovery: A Person-Centered Approach Apr 28, 2023 with Drs. Stephen Lewis & Penny Hacking Self-Injury Recovery: A Person-Centered Approach with Drs. Stephen Lewis & Penny Hacking 00:00 / 01:04 In this episode, ISSS Past Presidents Dr. Stephen Lewis from the University of Guelph in Canada, and Dr. Penelope Hasking from Curtin University in Australia talk about a new way of understanding self-injury and self-harm, with a special focus on recovery. In their person-centered approach, they emphasize the perspective of lived experience, move away from a "why don't you just stop" mentality, normalize ongoing self-injury thoughts and urges, and discuss strengths, scarring, and disclosures. Follow Drs. Lewis and Hasking on Twitter at @SPLewisPhD and @PennyHasking . Keep up with Dr. Lewis' non-profit outreach organization Self-Injury Outreach & Support at @sioutreach , and follow Dr. Hasking's research in the Emotional Health and Self-Injury Research Group at @NSSI_RG . Below are links to their book and a couple of their articles referenced in this episode: Lewis, S. P., & Hasking, P. A. (2023). Understanding self-injury: A person-centered approach . Oxford University Press. Lewis, S. P., & Hasking, P. A. (2021). Understanding self-injury: A person-centered approach . Psychiatric Services, 72 (6), 721-723. Lewis, S. P., & Hasking, P. (2019). Putting the “self” in self-injury research: Inclusion of people with lived experience in the research process . Psychiatric Services, 70 (11), 1058-1060. To read more about person-first language and identity-first language when referencing autism, click here and also visit https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36237135/ . To read about language used to discuss race and ethnicity, click here . 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

Mallory Dobias, MA, from Stony Brook University describes Project SAVE, an online, single-session intervention for nonsuicidal self-injury and self-harm. Season 2 | Episode 23 Podcast/ Season 2 | Episode 23 Single-Session Intervention for Self-Harm Mar 31, 2022 with Mallory Dobias Single-Session Intervention for Self-Harm with Mallory Dobias 00:00 / 01:04 According to a 2020 national survey by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), among 52.9 million adults with any mental illness in the United States, 46.2% received mental health services in the past year, which means more than half did not. Although there are known, effective treatments for mental disorders, the World Health Organization (WHO) reports that more than 75% of people in low- and middle-income countries receive no treatment. In this episode, Mallory Dobias, MA, a Clinical Psychology PhD student at Stony Brook University in New York discusses an online, brief single-session intervention for nonsuicidal self-injury and self-harm, allowing for more accessible treatment options. You can find Mallory's open access pre-print paper on PsyArXiv at https://psyarxiv.com/jprcg and its peer-reviewed final publication in the journal Behaviour Research and Therap y by clicking here . To find the pdf version of the intervention in Open Science Framework (OSF) visit https://osf.io/vguf4/ . To find the project summary of Project SAVE (Stop Adolescent Violence Everywhere), visit www.schleiderlab.org/completed-projects.html . Follow Mallory on Twitter at @MalloryDobias and learn more about her work with the Lab for Scalable Mental Health at www.schleiderlab.org/ and her work with the Fox Lab at Denver University at www.foxlabdu.com/ . 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

2023 - 2024 Home / Collaborative Research Program / Real-Time Monitoring of NSSI Using real-time monitoring to study social interactions and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) cognitions and behaviors among individuals seeking care Mentor/s: Glenn Kiekens and Laurence Claes 2024 - 2025 Project Overview Affiliations: Tilburg University & Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Netherlands & Belgium Project description: Recent advances in real-time monitoring technologies (i.e., multiple measurements a day via smartphones) have revolutionized our ability to study NSSI cognitions and behaviors, and its potential psychosocial risk factors, in the natural environment. This CRP project will use real-time monitoring data from the Detection of Acute Risk of Self-Injury (DAILY) project (Kiekens et al., 2023), a 28-day ecological momentary assessment study with six daily assessments among 125 individuals aged 15-39 years receiving inpatient and/or outpatient mental health services. Using an ideation-to-action framework, we will study the relationship between social interactions (e.g., being alone versus with others) and appraisals thereof and its contemporeanous and temporal relationship with both NSSI cognitions (thoughts, urges, and self-efficacy to resist NSSI) and NSSI behavior. We will evaluate whether increased risk for NSSI behavior operates via feelings of loneliness in a within-person mediation model. The introduction, methods, and analysis plan will be postregistred on the Open-Science Framework. Protocol paper of the DAILY project: Kiekens, G., Claes, L., Schoefs, S., Kemme, N. D. F., Luyckx, K., Kleiman, E. M., Nock, M. K., & Myin-Germeys, I. (2023). The Detection of Acute Risk of Self-injury Project: Protocol for an Ecological Momentary Assessment Study Among Individuals Seeking Treatment. JMIR Res Protoc, 12, e46244. https://doi.org/10.2196/46244 Applicants should have the following skills: The project will include an exhaustive review of relevant literature and empirical research and is open to researchers who are interested in clinical research and who have already some experience with more complex modeling approaches (e.g., Dynamic Structural Equation Modelling in Mplus). Junior researcher responsibilities: The researcher will be responsible for writing first drafts of the preregistration and the manuscript. Analyses will be conducted with the support of Dr. Kiekens. Anticipated outcome(s) for junior researcher: We will aim to work towards a conference presentation and publication. Time commitment: Approximately 1 day per week for an academic year Application Deadline: June 1, 2024 Apply Now

Amy Lucas, PhD, from Speek Health in the United Kingdom talks about how we can support siblings of those who self-injure and self-harm. Season 4 | Episode 46 Podcast/ Season 4 | Episode 46 Supporting Siblings of Individuals Who Self-Harm Feb 23, 2024 with Dr. Amy Lucas Supporting Siblings of Individuals Who Self-Harm with Dr. Amy Lucas 00:00 / 01:04 In this episode, Dr. Amy Lucas from Speek Health in the United Kingdom talks about supporting siblings of those who engage in nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI). How can parents and caregivers of those who self-injure determine if they should share that information with siblings? What should parents do or say if they learn that the one self-injuring has made their siblings promise not to tell their parents about their self-injury? How might the sibling’s age influence these decisions and conversations, and what if parents are worried that a sibling will pick up the same behavior from their brother or sister who self-injures? Connect with Dr. Lucas on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/amyhlucas, and learn more about her work at Speek Health, a resource for parents and caregivers of individuals who self-harm, at lets-speek.com. Below is one of the few (and free) research articles about siblings of those who engage in NSSI: Tschan, T., Lüdtke, J., Schmid, M., & In-Albon, T. (2019). Sibling relationships of female adolescents with nonsuicidal self-injury disorder in comparison to a clinical and a nonclinical control group. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health, 13, 15. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-019-0275-2 Previous Next