Janis Whitlock, PhD, from Cornell University and Senior Advisor for The JED Foundation explains how caregivers with lived experience of self-injury can navigate conversations with their children about their own history of self-harm, and how parents can manage heightened limits to confidentiality when their child who self-injures turns 18 while in therapy. Season 5 | Episode 65 Podcast/ Season 5 | Episode 65 Parenting with Lived Experience of Self-Injury Sep 26, 2025 with Dr. Janis Whitlock Parenting with Lived Experience of Self-Injury with Dr. Janis Whitlock 00:00 / 01:04 Two topics are covered in this episode: (1) how parents with lived experience of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) can navigate conversations with their children about their own scarring and wounds, and (2) how parents (with or without lived experience) can navigate conversations about self-injury with their young adult children when they turn 18. Dr. Whitlock is emerita research faculty at Cornell University, a former Associate Director of the Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research, 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. Dr. Whitlock is also Senior Advisor for The JED Foundation. To learn more about The JED Foundation, visit https://www.jedfoundation.org/ . Below is some of the work referenced in this episode: Whitlock, J., & Lloyd-Richardson, E. E. (2019). Healing self-injury: A compassionate guide for parents and other loved ones . Oxford University Press. Taliaferro, L. A., Jang, S. T., Westers, N. J., Muehlenkamp, J. J., Whitlock, J. L., & McMorris, B. J. (2020). Associations between connections to parents and friends and non-suicidal self-injury among adolescents: The mediating role of developmental assets . Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 25 (2), 359-371. Kibitov, A. A., & Mazo, G. E. (2023). Genetics and epigenetics of nonsuicidal self-injury: A narrative review . Russian Journal of Genetics, 59 (12), 1265-1276. Dawkins, J., Hasking, P., & Boyes, M. (2021). Knowledge of parental nonsuicidal self-injury in young people who self-injure: The mediating role of outcome expectancies . Journal of Family Studies, 27 (4), 479–490. Previous Next

2023 - 2024 Home / Collaborative Research Program / NSSI and STB Prediction Proximal mechanisms of NSSI predicting suicide thoughts and behaviors Mentor/s: Jennifer Muehlenkamp 2024 - 2025 Project Overview Affiliation: University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire Project description: Very little is known about the short-term temporal course of NSSI in relation to suicidal behavior, and information about possible mechanisms that facilitate, or reduce, transition to suicidal behavior among those engaging in NSSI is sparse. This project aims to provide data filling gaps in the suicide research by conducting a micro-longitudinal study of transdiagnostic processes believed to interact with and influence risk for suicidal behavior conferred by NSSI. Using the Integrative-Motivational-Volitional (IMV) theory of suicide as a guide, the current study proposes that variability in sleep quality and emotional reactivity will interact with self-perceptions and perceived social connectedness to influence NSSI features and mechanisms of risk to predict near-term, acute, change in suicidal behavior. Young adults reporting current NSSI and suicidal ideation will wear actigraph watches (to obtain sleep data) and complete daily diary assessments of the study variables along with weekly lab-based assessment for 4 weeks, and complete 1- and 2-month follow-ups. Multi-level modeling analyses will examine the moderating effects of sleep and emotional reactivity on the proposed risk-processes to influence NSSI and suicidal behaviors over days, weeks, and months. The results will provide novel and essential information to the field of suicidology by advancing current knowledge about acute risk for suicide and have potential to significantly impact clinical practice by identifying specific, modifiable markers of risk that can translate into clinical targets for assessment and intervention strategies. Applicants should have the following skills: Multi-level modeling /SEM / longitudinal data analytic statistical knowledge, scientific writing experience Junior researcher responsibilities: Assist with data analysis and write up of manuscript; Can conceptualize own research question/project from existing data and co-create a manuscript Anticipated outcome(s) for junior researcher: Peer-reviewed manuscript, Conference presentation(s) Time commitment: Approximately 1 day per week for 4-6 months Application Deadline: June 1, 2024 Apply Now

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

A mother shares her experience of when she learned about her daughter's self-injury and self-harm and how she responded as a parent. Season 1 | Episode 6 Podcast/ Season 1 | Episode 6 A Mother's Perspective of Her Daughter's Self-Injury Feb 12, 2021 A Mother's Perspective of Her Daughter's Self-Injury 00:00 / 01:04 Imagine receiving a phone call from your child's school expressing concern that your child might be suicidal. This is Dee's story. In this episode she shares about how she was able to differentiate between self-harm of suicide and nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI), support her daughter through the process, connect her to therapy, and what advice she has for parents in similar circumstances. Follow Dr. Westers on Instagram and Twitter (@DocWesters). To join ISSS, visit itriples.org and follow ISSS on Facebook and Twitter (@ITripleS). Previous Next

Peggy Andover, PhD, from Fordham University talks us through the Treatment for Self-Injurious Behaviors (T-SIB) intervention for nonsuicidal self-injury and self-harm. Season 1 | Episode 10 Podcast/ Season 1 | Episode 10 Treatment for Self-Injurious Behaviors (T-SIB) Apr 9, 2021 with Dr. Peggy Andover Treatment for Self-Injurious Behaviors (T-SIB) with Dr. Peggy Andover 00:00 / 01:04 A lot of therapies address the context in which nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) and self-harm may occur, but only a few treatments have been designed to address NSSI specifically. In this episode, we dive into one of these treatments: Treatment for Self-Injurious Behaviors (T-SIB). Dr. Peggy Andover, its lead developer, walks us through the 9 sessions of T-SIB, including the personalized modules of sessions 7 & 8. Learn more about Dr. Andover and her work in the Mood and Behaviors Lab at https://www.fordham.edu/info/23638/mood_and_behaviors_lab and reach her at andover@fordham.edu . Follow her on Twitter @DrPeggyAndover . Below are links to some of her research and the resources referenced in this episode: Moderators of treatment response to an intervention for nonsuicidal self-injury in young adults (2020) An intervention for nonsuicidal self-injury in young adults: A pilot randomized controlled trial (2017) Development of an intervention for nonsuicidal self-injury in young adults: An open pilot trial (2015) 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. Stephen P. Lewis Dr. Stephen P. Lewis Previous Dr. Stephen P. Lewis is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Guelph (Canada) and one of the world’s leading voices in self-injury research and advocacy. His work explores NSSI, online communities, and how digital spaces can serve as both risks and sources of support for people who self-injure. Dr. Lewis’s research is deeply informed by collaboration with people who have lived experience, and he has been instrumental in shaping more compassionate, stigma-reducing approaches to understanding self-injury. Beyond academia, he is a passionate advocate for mental health awareness and a frequent public speaker whose openness and empathy have inspired countless individuals and researchers worldwide. His work is widely respected for its compassion, insight, and dedication to amplifying the voices of those with lived experience. Next ISSS Fellow | 2025

Wellington, Aotearoa (New Zealand) 2025 Conferences / 20th Annual Conference | Wellington, Aotearoa 25th - 27th June, 2025 In 2025, we hosted our 20th Annual International Conference in Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand. Conference Schedule Information for Presenters Details Register for the conference Additional registration information NOTE: If you are from a low or low-middle income nation , please email ISSS2026@akademikonferens.se for a 20% discount. In 2025, we held our 20th Annual International Conference in Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand — our first ever in the Southern Hemisphere! It was an inspiring week of cultural discovery, new connections, and renewed dedication to research, support, and advocacy. ISSS 2025 Program & Abstract Book June 23 .pdf Download PDF • 466KB

Brittany from Texas shares her story of lived experience of self-injury and self-harm and how her faith has helped her navigate both positive and negative reactions from religious leaders. Season 2 | Episode 21 Podcast/ Season 2 | Episode 21 Lived Experience: Brittany's Story of Self-Injury & Faith Jan 28, 2022 Lived Experience: Brittany's Story of Self-Injury & Faith 00:00 / 01:04 In this first episode of Season 2, Brittany details her experience of engaging in nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI), how it started, and how she makes sense of self-injury and her faith in God. She explains two starkly different responses she received from church leaders and shares insights about how youth pastors in particular can provide supportive responses to students who engage in self-injury and self-harm. Follow Brittany on Instagram at @brittanytinsleywrites and read her blog at https://brittanytinsley.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

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

Site References Resources / Site References Our Sources Plener, P. L., Schumachers, T. S., Munz, L., & Groschwitz, R. C. (2015). The longitudinal course of non-suicidal self-injury and deliberate self-harm: A systematic review of the literature. Borderline Personality Disorder and Emotion Dysregulation, 2, Article 2. https://doi.org/10.1186%2Fs40479-014-0024-3 Miller, A. L., Rathaus, J. H., & Linehan, M. M. (2007). Dialectical behavior therapy with suicidal adolescents. Guilford. Liu, R. R. (2021). The epidemiology of non-suicidal self-injury: Lifetime prevalence, sociodemographic and clinical correlates, and treatment use in a nationally representative sample of adults in England. Psychological Medicine, 53, 274-282. https://doi.org/10.1017/S003329172100146X Bjureberg, J., Sahlin, H., Hedman-Lagerlöf, E., Gratz, K. L., Tull, M. T., Jokinen, J., Hellner, C., & Ljótsson, 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, Article 326. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-018-1885-6 Katz, L. Y., Cox, B. J., Gunasekara, S., & Miller, A. L. (2004). Feasibility of dialectical behavior therapy for suicidal adolescent inpatients. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 43, 276-282. https://doi.org/10.1097/00004583-200403000-00008 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://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1097/NMD.0000000000000899 Liu, R. T., Scopelliti, K. M., Pittman, S. K., & Zamora, A. S. (2018). Childhood maltreatment and non-suicidal self-injury: A systematic review and meta-analysis. The Lancet - Psychiatry, 5, 51-64. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(17)30469-8 Turner, B. J., Austin, S. B., & Chapman, A. L. (2014). Treating nonsuicidal self-injury: A systematic review of psychological and pharmacological interventions. The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 59, 576-585. https://doi.org/10.1177/070674371405901103 Stanley, B., Brodsky, B., Nelson, J. D., & Dulit, R. (2007). Brief dialectical behavior therapy (DBT-B) for suicidal behavior and non-suicidal self-injury. Archives of Suicide Research, 11, 337-341. https://doi.org/10.1080/13811110701542069 Smith, N. B., Kouros, C. D., & Meuret, A. E. (2014). The role of trauma symptoms in nonsuicidal self-injury. Trauma, Violence, and Abuse, 15, 41-56. https://doi.org/10.1177/1524838013496332 Calvo, N., Sara García-González, S., Perez-Galbarro, C., Regales-Peco, C., Lugo-Marin, J., Ramos-Quiroga, J.- A., & Ferrer, M. (2022). Psychotherapeutic interventions specifically developed for NSSI in adolescence: A systematic review. European Neuropsychopharmacology, 58, 86-98. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroneuro.2022.02.009 Zetterqvist, M. (2015). The DSM-5 diagnosis of nonsuicidal self-injury disorder: A review of the empirical literature. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health, 9, Article 31. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-015-0062-7 Pistorello, J., Fruzzetti, A. E., Maclane, C., Gallop, R., & Iverson, K. M. (2012). Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) applied to college students: A randomized clinical trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0029096 Lewis, S. P. (2017). I cut therefore I am? Avoiding labels in the context of self-injury. Medical Humanities, 43, Article 204. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/medhum-2017-011221 Fox, K. R., Huang, X., Guzmán, E. M., Funsch, K. M., Cha, C. B., Ribeiro, J. D., & Franklin, J. C. (2020). Interventions for suicide and self-injury: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials across nearly 50 years of research. Psychological Bulletin, 146, 1117-1145. https://doi.org/10.1037/bul0000305 Linehan, M. M. (1993). Cognitive-behavioral treatment of borderline personality disorder. Guilford. Gholamrezaei, M., De Stefano, J., & Heath, N. (2015). Nonsuicidal self-injury across cultures and ethnic and racial minorities: A review. International Journal of Psychology, 52, 316-326. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijop.12230 Andover, M. S., Schatten, H. T., Morris, B. W., Holman, C. S., & Miller, I. W. (2017). An intervention for nonsuicidal self-injury in young adults: A pilot randomized controlled trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 85, 620–631. https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000206 Ribeiro, J. D., Franklin, J. C., Fox, K. R., Bentley, K. H., Kleiman, E. M., Chang, B. P., & Nock, M. K. (2015). Self-injurious thoughts and behaviors as risk factors for future suicide ideation, attempts, and death: A meta-analysis of longitudinal studies. Psychological Medicine, 46, 225-236. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291715001804 Fleischhaker, C., Böhme, R., Sixt, B., Brück, C., Schneider, C., & Schulz, E. (2011). Dialectical behavioral therapy for adolescents (DBT-A): A clinical trial for patients with suicidal and self-injurious behavior and borderline symptoms with a one-year follow-up. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health, 5, Article 3. https://doi.org/10.1186/1753-2000-5-3 Kiekens, G., Hasking, P., Boyes, M., Claes, L., Mortier, P., Auerbach, R. P., Cuijpers, P., Demyttenaere, K., Greene, J. G., Kessler, R. C., Myin-Germeys, I., Nock, M. K., & Bruffaerts, R. (2018). The associations between non-suicidal self-injury and first onset suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Journal of Affective Disorders, 239, 171-179. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2018.06.033 Taylor, P. J., Jomar, K., Dhingra, K., Forrester, R., Shahmalak, U., & Dickson, J. M. (2018). A meta-analysis of the prevalence of different functions of non-suicidal self-injury. Journal of Affective Disorders, 227, 759-769. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2017.11.073 Nock, M. K., Teper, R., & Hollander, M. (2007). Psychological treatment of self-injury among adolescents. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 63, 1081-1089. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.20415 Fox, K. R., Franklin, J. C., Ribeiro, J. D., Kleiman, E. M., Bentley, K. H., & Nock, M. K. (2015). Meta-analysis of risk factors for nonsuicidal self-injury. Clinical psychology review, 42, 156–167. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2015.09.002 Gandhi, A., Luyckx, K., Baetens, I., Kiekens, G., Sleuwaegen, E., Berens, A., Maitra, S., & Claes, L. (2018). Age of onset of non-suicidal self-injury in Dutch-speaking adolescents and emerging adults: An event history analysis of pooled data. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 80, 170-178. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2017.10.007 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 Liu, R. T., Sheehan, A. E., Walsh, R. F. L., Sanzari, C. M., Cheek, S. M., & Hernandez, E. M. (2019). Prevalence and correlates of non-suicidal self-injury among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review, 74, Article 101783. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2019.101783 Muehlenkamp, J. J., Xhunga, N., & Brausch, A. M. (2019). Self-injury age of onset: A risk factor for NSSI severity and suicidal behavior. Archives of Suicide Research, 23, 551-563. https://doi.org/10.1080/13811118.2018.1486252 Bjureberg, J., Sahlin, H., Hellner, C., Hedman-Lagerlöf, E., Gratz, K. L., Bjärehed, J., Jokinen, J., Tull, M. T., & Ljótsson, B. (2017). Emotion regulation individual therapy for adolescents with nonsuicidal self-injury disorder: A feasibility study. BMC Psychiatry, 17, Article 411. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-017-1527-4 Griep, S. K., & MacKinnon, D. F. (2020). Does nonsuicidal self-injury predict later suicidal attempts? A review of studies. Archives of Suicide Research, 26, 428-446. https://doi.org/10.1080/13811118.2020.1822244 Klonsky, E. D., Victor, S., & Saffer, B. Y. (2014). Nonsuicidal self-injury: What we know, and what we need to know. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F070674371405901101 Seo. (2007). Ensō: Zen circles of enlightenment. Shambhala Publications.

Orlando, Florida 2019 Conferences / 14th Annual Conference | Orlando, Florida June, 2019 In 2019, we hosted our 14th Annual International Conference in Orlando, Florida. Conference Schedule Information for Presenters Details Register for the conference Additional registration information NOTE: If you are from a low or low-middle income nation , please email ISSS2026@akademikonferens.se for a 20% discount. Conference Program ISSS 2019 Conference Program .pdf Download PDF • 566KB

Michelle Hiner, MS, from Rutgers University in New Jersey breaks down how high and low arousal emotions affect the perception of pain among those who engage in self-injury and self-harm. Season 4 | Episode 53 Podcast/ Season 4 | Episode 53 Effects of Emotions on Self-Injury Pain Perception Sep 27, 2024 with Michelle Hiner Effects of Emotions on Self-Injury Pain Perception with Michelle Hiner 00:00 / 01:04 Does the emotion someone experiences immediately preceding an episode of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) influence how painful that episode of self-harm feels? In this episode, Michelle Hiner, MS, a Clinical Psychology PhD student in the Emotion and Psychopathology (EmP) Lab at Rutgers University in New Jersey talks about how individuals who self-harm after experiencing high arousal negative emotions (HANEs), like anger, experience pain differently than those who self-injure after experiencing low arousal negative emotions (LANEs), like sadness and dissociation. Connect with Michelle on LinkedIn here , and learn more about the Emotion and Psychopathology (EmP) Lab here . Below are some papers referenced in this episode: Drummond, P. D. (1995). Noradrenaline increases hyperalgesia to heat in skin sensitized by capsaicin . Pain, 60 (3), 311-315. Wiercioch-Kuzianik, K., & Bąbel, P. (2019). Color hurts. The effect of color on pain perception . Pain Medicine, 20 (10), 1955-1962. Paul, E., Tsypes, A., Eidlitz, L., Ernhout, C., & Whitlock, J. (2015). Frequency and functions of non-suicidal self-injury: Associations with suicidal thoughts and behaviors . Psychiatry Research, 225 (3), 276–282. Previous Next