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 2025 Dr. Kealagh Robinson Dr. Robinson is a Senior Lecturer at Massey's School of Psychology (Aotearoa, New Zealand). She is also a collaborator with the Checking on Mental Health Providing Alternatives to Suicide (COMPAS) program. Read more...

2023 - 2024 Home / Collaborative Research Program / 2023 Current Projects The 2023-24 cycle of the ISSS Collaborative Research Program (CRP) is now closed. Thank you to all who submitted an application 🎉 Outcomes will be communicated soon, and announced after the CRP Symposium at the Conference in Vienna. Applications Closed Item Title Mentored by: This is placeholder text. To connect this element to content from your collection, select the element and click Connect to Data. Read More Item Title Mentored by: This is placeholder text. To connect this element to content from your collection, select the element and click Connect to Data. Read More Item Title Mentored by: This is placeholder text. To connect this element to content from your collection, select the element and click Connect to Data. Read More

Jonas Bjärehed, PhD, from Lund University in Sweden compares rates of self-injury and self-harm among youth from 2007 to 2023. Season 4 | Episode 47 Podcast/ Season 4 | Episode 47 Do Youth Self-Injure More Now Than 15 Years Ago? Mar 29, 2024 with Dr. Jonas Bjärehed Do Youth Self-Injure More Now Than 15 Years Ago? with Dr. Jonas Bjärehed 00:00 / 01:04 In this episode, Dr. Jonas Bjärehed from Lund University in Sweden walks us through his research on nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) that he began in 2007 as part of his dissertation project. For example, he shares high prevalence rates of NSSI in Sweden (~40%) and discusses gender differences of NSSI among adolescents in 2007 compared to 2023. He also explains the results of a 10-year longitudinal study in which he surveyed individuals as adolescents about their self-harm and then surveyed the same group as adults 10 years later. Learn more about Dr. Bjärehed's research here and connect with him on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/jonasbjarehed . Below are a couple of his publications along with a couple papers on " phubbing ." Wångby-Lundh, M., Lundh L.-G., Claréus, B., Bjärehed, J.,& Daukantaitė, D. (2023). Developmental pathways of repetitive nonsuicidal self-injury: predictors in adolescence and psychological outcomes in young adulthood . Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health, 17 (1), 116. Daukantaitė, D., Lundh, L.-G., Wångby-Lundh, M., Claréus, B., Bjärehed, J., Zhou, Y., & Liljedahl, S. I. (2021). What happens to young adults who have engaged in self-injurious behavior as adolescents? A 10-year follow-up . European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 30 (3), 475–492. Liu, S., Wu, P., Han, X., Wang, M., Kan, Y., Qin, K., & Lan, J. (2024). Mom, dad, put down your phone and talk to me: how parental phubbing influences problematic internet use among adolescents . BMC Psychology, 12 , 125. Lv, H., Ye, W., Chen, S., Zhang, H., & Wang, R. (2022). The effect of mother phubbing on young children’s emotional and behavioral problems: A moderated mediation model of mother–child attachment and parenting stress . International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19 , 16911. Previous Next

2023 - 2024 Home / Collaborative Research Program / Cognitive and emotional flexibility... Cognitive and emotional flexibility in youth with NSSI Mentor/s: Tina In-Albon 2023 - 2024 Project Overview The most common function of NSSI is emotion regulation. However, the differentiation between adaptive and maladaptive strategies is overly simplistic. More recent approaches focus on psychological flexibility, which is seen as an important determinant of mental health and well-being. More specifically, the present project will investigate behavioral, cognitive, and emotion regulation flexibility as well as its associations in youth with NSSI. Behavioral flexibility refers to the adaptive change of behavior in response to changing environmental contengenies. Cognitive flexibility, which refers to the ability to adapt responses/strategies based on environmental feedback. Emotion regulation flexibility refers according to Aldao et al. (2015) as “the degree of covariation between variation in the use of one or more emotional regulation strategies across a number of environments, while the environment might consist of external events or appraisals of emotional reactions to such events.” So, there are two core elements to emotional flexibility, sensitivity to situational demands and the ability to regulate emotions accordingly. Details will be discussed. Application Deadline: June 11 2023 Apply Now Previous Next

Maryam Gholamrezaei, PhD, C.Psych, from Toronto, Canada, discusses self-injury and help-seeking among ethnically diverse populations and shares cultural insights into reasons for self-harm among individuals in the Middle East. Season 4 | Episode 54 Podcast/ Season 4 | Episode 54 Self-Injury Among Ethnically Diverse Populations Oct 25, 2024 Dr. Maryam Gholamrezaei Self-Injury Among Ethnically Diverse Populations Dr. Maryam Gholamrezaei 00:00 / 01:04 In this episode, Maryam Gholamrezaei, PhD, C.Psych, shares about her interviews with racially and ethnically diverse individuals who self-injure, including their responses to her question, “In your culture, what is the general response to people who engage in self-harming behaviors?” She also discusses gender differences in nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) among different ethnic groups and offers unique insights into how the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East may influence an individual's decision to self-harm. Learn more about Dr. Gholamrezaei on her website at https://drmaryamgholamrezaei.ca/ . Below are some publications written by Dr. Gholamrezaei as well as Dr. Westers' editorial: Gholamrezaei, M., Heath, N. L., Pereira, L., De Stefano, J., & Böke, B. N. (2023). Nonsuicidal self-injury, mental health service use, and cultural perspectives among ethnically diverse university students . Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health, 42 (1), 15-40. Gholamrezaei, M., De Stefano, J., & Heath, N. L. (2017). Nonsuicidal self-injury across cultures and ethnic and racial minorities: A review . International Journal of Psychology, 52 (4), 316–326. Gholamrezaei, M., Heath, N., & Panaghi, L. (2016). Non-suicidal self-injury in a sample of university students in Tehran, Iran: prevalence, characteristics and risk factors . International Journal of Culture and Mental Health , 10 (2), 136–149. Westers, N. J. (2024). Cultural interpretations of nonsuicidal self-injury and suicide: Insights from around the world . Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 29 (4), 1231-1235. Previous Next

Caroline Roberts from the University of Minnesota bridges the conversation gap between self-injurious behavior (SIB) and nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI), including self-harm among individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Season 3 | Episode 41 Podcast/ Season 3 | Episode 41 Self-Injury in Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Sep 29, 2023 with Caroline Roberts Self-Injury in Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities (IDD) with Caroline Roberts 00:00 / 01:04 Up to 1 in 5 (20%) individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and about 3 in 7 (42%) individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) engage in self-injurious behavior (SIB). Common forms of SIB include repetitive head banging, head-hitting, self-biting, self-hitting, eye-poking, skin-picking, and trichotillomania (hair pulling), among other forms of self-harm. In this episode, Caroline Roberts from the University of Minnesota and Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain discusses the differences and similarities between SIB and nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) and how we can bridge the gap between NSSI research and clinical practice, and SIB among those with IDD. She also shares 4 key topics from her interviews with experts in SIB and NSSI: (1) case ascertainment, (2) perceptions of causal variables, (3) pathways to treatment, and (4) treatment goals and outcomes. Learn more about the Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain and their interdisciplinary approaches to understanding and improving SIB workgroup here . Follow Caroline on Twitter/X at @clrobz . Below are one of her papers and other research referenced in today's episode: Roberts, C. L., Avina, A. H., & Symons, F. J. (2023). A qualitative analysis of family caregiver experiences accessing treatment for self-injurious behavior in individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities . Journal of Mental Health Research in Intellectual Disabilities . Dimian, A. F., & Symons, F. J. (2022). A systematic review of risk for the development and persistence of self-injurious behavior in intellectual and developmental disabilities. Clinical Psychology Review, 94 , 102158. Steenfeldt-Kristensen, C., Jones, C. A., & Richards, C. (2020). The prevalence of self-injurious behaviour in autism: A meta-analytic study . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 50 (11), 3857-3873. 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 ." Previous Next

Imke Baetens, PhD, from Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Brussels University) in Belgium and PhD student Lisa Van Hove discuss the prevalence and characteristics of self-injury and self-harm among children under age 12. Season 2 | Episode 28 Podcast/ Season 2 | Episode 28 Self-Injury Under Age 12 Aug 31, 2022 with Dr. Imke Baetens & Lisa Van Hove Self-Injury Under Age 12 with Dr. Imke Baetens & Lisa Van Hove 00:00 / 01:04 Just how prevalent is self-injury among children under age 12? Do the types and methods they use differ from those who self-injure at other ages? What about the reasons they give for self-injuring? In this episode, Dr. Imke Baetens and PhD candidate Lisa Van Hove from Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Brussels University) discuss the prevalence of self-injury and self-harm among children under age 12 and how parents can talk to their young children about the behavior. To learn more about the International Consortium on Self-Injury in Educational Settings (ICSES), visit www.icsesgroup.org . Learn more about Dr. Baetens at www.brucc.be/en/imke-baetens . To see her publications, click here , and to learn more about her work at the Brussels University Consultation Center (BUCC), visit www.brucc.be/en . Connect with Lisa on LinkedIn here . Below are some of their research referenced in this episode: Baetens, I., Decruy, C., Vatandoost, S., Vanderhaegen, B., & Kiekens, G. (2020). School-based prevention targeting non-suicidal self-injury: A pilot study . Frontiers in Psychiatry, 11 , 437. Van Hove, L., Baetens, I., Simundic, A., Bloom, E., & Heath, N. (in press). NSSI in elementary school children. In E. E. Lloyd-Richardson, I. Baetens & J. Whitlock (Eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Nonsuicidal Self-Injury . Oxford University Press. 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

Johan Bjureberg, Ph.D., from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden walks us through Emotion Regulation Individual Therapy for Adolescents (ERITA) for nonsuicidal self-injury and self-harm. Season 4 | Episode 52 Podcast/ Season 4 | Episode 52 Emotion Regulation Individual Therapy for Adolescents (ERITA) Who Self-Harm Aug 30, 2024 with Dr. Johan Bjureberg Emotion Regulation Individual Therapy for Adolescents (ERITA) Who Self-Harm with Dr. Johan Bjureberg 00:00 / 01:04 Emotion Regulation Individual Therapy for Adolescents (ERITA) and its internet-delivered version (IERITA) is just one of a couple of treatments developed specifically to address nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) among adolescents. In this episode, Dr. Johan Bjureberg from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden walks us through in detail each of the 11 sessions of IERITA and IERITA's 6 parallel sessions for parents. Learn more about Dr. Bjureberg's work here , and follow the Bjureberg Research Lab and their projects and publications at https://bjureberglab.se/ . Below are links to his research on ERITA/IERITA referenced in this episode: Bjureberg, J., Ojala, O., Hesser, H., Häbel, H., Sahlin, H., Gratz, K. L., Tull, M. T., Knutsson, E. C., Hedman-Lagerlöf, E., Ljótsson, B., & Hellner, C. (2023). Effect of internet-delivered Emotion Regulation Individual Therapy for Adolescents with Nonsuicidal Self-Injury Disorder: A randomized clinical trial . JAMA Network Open, 6 (7), e2322069. Bjureberg, J., Sahlin, H., Hedman-Lagerlof, E., Gratz, K. L., Tull, M. T., Jokinen, J., Hellner, C., & Ljotsson, B. (2018). Extending research on emotion regulation individual therapy for adolescents (ERITA) with nonsuicidal self-injury disorder: Open pilot trial and mediation analysis of a novel online version . BMC Psychiatry, 18 , 326. Bjureberg, J., Sahlin, H., Hellner, C., Hedman-Lagerlof, E., Gratz, K. L., Bjarehed, J., Jokinen, J., Tull, M. T., & Ljotsson, B. (2017). Emotion regulation individual therapy for adolescents with nonsuicidal self-injury disorder: A feasibility study . BMC Psychiatry, 17 , 411. Previous Next

Nathan Peterson, LCSW, from OCD and Anxiety Counseling in Allen, Texas, explains the difference between Self-Harm OCD and nonsuicidal self-injury as well as Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for harm OCD. Season 3 | Episode 38 Podcast/ Season 3 | Episode 38 Self-Harm OCD vs. Nonsuicidal Self-Injury Jun 30, 2023 with Nathan Peterson Self-Harm OCD vs. Nonsuicidal Self-Injury with Nathan Peterson 00:00 / 01:04 Approximately 1-4% of people throughout the world experience obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Individuals with OCD are more likely than those without OCD to engage in nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI), and recent research has shown that, among those who self-injure, having a diagnosis of OCD predicts more severe self-injury. In this episode, licensed clinical social worker and OCD expert Nathan Peterson explains how he differentiates nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) from Self-Harm OCD, which is just one of many subtypes of OCD and one in which a person experiences intrusive thoughts or mental images of violence toward oneself. He then walks us through how he uses Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for Self-Harm OCD in therapy. Learn more about Nathan and his therapy practice OCD and Anxiety Counseling here . He has nearly 100k subscribers on YouTube ( @ocdandanxiety ) where his videos receive thousands and thousands of views. You can also follow him on Instagram ( @ocdandanxietyonline ), Twitter ( @ocdandanxiety1 ), and Facebook . Click here to take his online "Do I Have Harm OCD? Test." Below are additional resources about OCD and/or NSSI: Browning, M. E., Lloyd-Richardson, E. E., Schneider, R. L., Faro, A. L., Muehlenkamp, J. J., & Claudio-Hernandez, A. (2022). Obsessive compulsive disorder and co-occurring nonsuicidal self-injury: Evidence-based treatments and future research directions . The Behavior Therapist, 45(6), 199-208. International OCD Foundation at https://iocdf.org/ . Winston, S. M., & Seif, M. N. ( 2017). Overcoming unwanted intrusive thoughts: A CBT-based guide to getting over frightening, obsessive, or disturbing thoughts . New Harbinger. Baer, L. (2012). Getting control: Overcoming your obsessions and compulsions (3rd ed.) . Plume. To learn more about how medication can help address OCD (most often in tandem with ERP but not discussed in this episode), 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 " 20 Best Clinical Psychology Podcasts " and also featured in Audible's " Best Mental Health Podcasts to Defy Stigma and Begin to Heal ." Previous Next

Barent Walsh, PhD, author of "Treating Self-Injury: A Practical Guide" and Executive Director Emeritus and Senior Clinical Consultant at Open Sky Community Services in Worcester, MA, describes the forms, functions, and treatment of atypical, severe self-injury and self-harm. Season 1 | Episode 12 Podcast/ Season 1 | Episode 12 Atypical Severe Self-Injury May 7, 2021 with Dr. Barry Walsh Atypical Severe Self-Injury with Dr. Barry Walsh 00:00 / 01:04 When we talk about nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) in this podcast, we are typically referring to the most common forms of NSSI. But what about rarer, more significant forms of self-harm and self-harming behaviors that do not fit neatly within the typical definition of NSSI, like ingesting foreign objects to intentionally cause internal injury? And how do these forms of “Atypical Severe Self-Injury” differ in function and severity from more common forms of self-injury? In this episode, Dr. Barry Walsh details 3 specific forms of Atypical, Severe Self-Injury, explains their unique functions, and shares clinical guidelines for treating those who engage in Atypical, Severe Self-Injury. Learn more about Dr. Walsh and his work at Open Sky Community Services by visiting www.openskycs.org . Below are links to some of his research and publications referenced in this episode: Walsh, B. W. (2014). Treating self-injury: A practical guide (2nd ed.) . New York: Guilford. Walsh, B. W. (2019). Atypical, severe self-injury: How to understand and treat it. In J. J. Washburn (Ed.), Nonsuicidal self-injury: Advances in research and practice . New York: Routledge. Atypical and severe nonsuicidal self-injury as an indicator of severe psychopathology: Findings from a sample of high-risk community mental health clients (Hom et al., 2018) Follow Dr. Westers on Instagram and Twitter (@DocWesters). To join ISSS, visit itriples.org and follow ISSS on Facebook and Twitter (@ITripleS). Previous Next

Home / Awards / Invited Fellow / Dr. Barent W. Walsh Dr. Barent W. Walsh Previous Dr. Barent (Barry) Walsh is a Clinical Social Worker , educator, and one of the earliest and most influential figures in the study and treatment of self-injury. Author of Treating Self-Injury: A Practical Guide , a foundational text for clinicians, Dr. Walsh has trained thousands of professionals in compassionate, evidence-based care. His decades of work have profoundly shaped the clinical understanding of self-injury, emphasizing empathy, validation, and therapeutic skill. Dr. Walsh continues to consult and teach internationally, bridging the gap between research and frontline practice. He is widely admired for his humility, generosity, and unwavering commitment to improving the lives of those with lived experience of NSSI. For many, Barry is a symbol of a true science-based clinician. He epitomizes the spirit of collaboration, approachability, and friendship that is a hallmark of ISSS. Next ISSS Fellow | 2021

Contact Us Home / About / Contact Us Get in touch Please note that this contact form is for general inquiries only. While we offer information and resources about self-injury, ISSS is unable to provide crisis support, clinical services, or treatment. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger or needs urgent help, please contact local emergency mental health services in your area. You can find a list of suggested services at https://www.helpguide.org/find-help First Name Last Name Email What is your message about? * Required Membership Conference Advocacy Research Clinical Publication Other Message Subscribe to the newsletter Send Sent! We'll be in touch soon :)