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  • Self-Injury Stigma and Language

    Penelope Hasking, PhD, from Curtin University in Australia and current President of the International Society for the Study of Self-Injury (ISSS) discusses how the words we use to describe self-injury and those who engage in the behavior may either foster empathy and help-seeking or further stigmatize those who self-injure and self-harm. Season 1 | Episode 4 Podcast/ Season 1 | Episode 4 Self-Injury Stigma and Language Jan 15, 2021 with Dr. Penelope Hasking Self-Injury Stigma and Language with Dr. Penelope Hasking 00:00 / 01:04 What are common ways we talk about self-injury or self-harm that may inadvertently perpetuate stigma about the behavior and those who engage in it? In this episode, Dr. Hasking offers a unique way of thinking about words like "contagious" and "recovery." She also provides insights into the pros and cons of including a Nonsuicidal Self-Injury Disorder as a potential formal diagnosis in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). Learn more about self-injury and Dr. Hasking's work at Shedding Light on Self-Injury ( https://www.self-injury.org.au/ ). Below are links to some of her research referenced in this episode: Cutting words: A commentary on language and stigma in the context of nonsuicidal self-injury Self-injury recovery: A person-centered framework Stigma and nonsuicidal self-injury: Application of a conceptual framework Follow Dr. Westers on Instagram and Twitter (@DocWesters). To join ISSS, visit itriples.org and follow ISSS on Facebook and Twitter (@ITripleS). Previous Next

  • Lived Experience: Kirsty's Story of Self-Injury & Advocacy

    Kirsty from New Zealand shares her story of lived experience of self-injury and how her experiences inform her work in advocating for, and instilling hope in, others with similar stories of self-harm. Season 2 | Episode 30 Podcast/ Season 2 | Episode 30 Lived Experience: Kirsty's Story of Self-Injury & Advocacy Oct 28, 2022 Lived Experience: Kirsty's Story of Self-Injury & Advocacy 00:00 / 01:04 In this episode, Kirsty Moore details her experience of engaging in nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) beginning at age 14 and into her 30's. She discusses her training in psychology and how she integrates research on NSSI with her lived experience of self-harm as a form of advocacy when conducting workshops on NSSI for the community. Connect with Dr. Kirsty on Instagram at @dr_kirsty_coaching . 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

  • SiteReferences

    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.

  • Lived Experience: Thomas' Story of Self-Injury & Gender Dysphoria

    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

  • Treatments for Self-Injury

    About Self-Injury Treatments for Self-Injury Resources / About Self-Injury / Treatments for Self-Injury "It must be person-centred" "Treatment" and "recovery" can mean different things to different people. In general, "treatment" refers to physical (e.g., wound care) and psychological (e.g., DBT) interventions that help people who are self-injuring. Generally, the goal of psychological treatments is to reduce NSSI by targeting the thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that underlie an individual's self-injury. Until recently, few treatments were developed specifically for self-injury. Although there is currently no “gold-standard” treatment for self-injury, several treatments show promise in helping people decrease or stop these behaviors (Calvo et al., 2022; Turner et al., 2014), although the efficacy of treatments is still unclear (Fox et al., 2020). Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) DBT is a psychotherapeutic treatment designed to treat Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), of which NSSI is a common behaviour (Linehan, 1993). It was modified by Miller et al. (2007) to reduce NSSI and suicidality among adolescents, and has shown efficacy to reduce NSSI in multiple studies (Fleischhaker et al., 2011; Pistorello et al., 2012, Stanley et al., 2007). DBT is an intensive treatment lasting 6 months to 2 years and involves weekly individual therapy, group-based skills training, and between-session coaching. DBT integrates behavioral strategies (e.g., behavior analysis, problem-solving strategies, skills training in emotion regulation and interpersonal effectiveness, contingency management) with mindfulness (e.g., nonjudgmental, present-focused attention), and dialectical strategies (e.g., balancing acceptance and change) to reduce self-injury by: Improving emotion regulation Increasing behavioral control Strengthening positive identity Improving interpersonal skills It is important to note that some research shows that DBT is not superior to other treatments in reducing self-injury (e.g., Katz et al., 2004, Nock et al., 2007). Emotion Regulation Group Therapy (ERGT) ERGT was developed as an alternative to DBT, offering a briefer treatment period including 14 weeks of group-based psychotherapy. Unlike DBT, which is intended to treat NSSI in combination with other challenges facing people living with BPD, ERGT focuses solely on NSSI. It integrates components of DBT and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). ERGT treats NSSI in several ways: Increasing awareness, understanding, and acceptance of emotions. By learning more about emotions and how to recognise them, individuals are better equipped to cope with emotional experiences. Improving emotional control and tolerance. Individuals learn how to better control the intensity and duration of their emotions, and develop greater tolerance of uncomfortable emotional experiences. Facilitating behavioral control. Individuals learn how to enact goal-directed behaviors and inhibit impulsive behaviors in response to negative emotions. ERGT was designed as an adjunctive treatment, meaning it is best used in conjunction with, rather than instead of, other types of treatment (such as individual psychotherapy). Several well-designed studies have shown that ERGT is effective in reducing self-injury in adult women living with BPD. A recent feasibility study also suggests that ERGT may be effective in adolescent girls engaging in NSSI. Importantly, research on ERGT has been limited to studies on women; more research is needed to determine whether ERGT is equally effective for men. ERGT was also recently adapted to an individual setting for adolescents (ERIT-A; Bjureberg et al., 2017). An open trial investigating the online delivery of ERIT-A showed a reduction in NSSI, which was strengthened at 3-month follow up, and maintained at 6-month follow-up (Bjureberg et al., 2018). Treatment for Self-Injurious Behaviors (T-SIB) T-SIB is a brief, nine-session intervention conducted weekly on an individual basis (Andover et al., 2017). Designed for young adults engaging in NSSI, T-SIB uses motivational enhancement strategies, functional analysis, and skills training for problem-solving, distress tolerance, cognitive distortions, and interpersonal communication to address self-injury. An initial pilot study of T-SIB found decreased self-injury over the course of treatment; however, further research is needed to see if T-SIB will be effective in other groups of people and to compare T-SIB to other treatments that address self-injury. References 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 Linehan, M. M. (1993). Cognitive-behavioral treatment of borderline personality disorder . Guilford. Miller, A. L., Rathaus, J. H., & Linehan, M. M. (2007). Dialectical behavior therapy with suicidal adolescents . Guilford. 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 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 , 80 , 982–994. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0029096 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 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%2F070674371405901103

  • What are the Impacts of Self-Injury

    About Self-Injury What are the Impacts of Self-Injury? Resources / About Self-Injury / What are the Impacts of Self-Injury? "In the short and long term" Self-injury can have varied short- and long-term impacts on individuals, as well as their friends, partners, and families. Short-term In the short-term, many people report that they feel a sense of calm or relief right after they self-injure. However, some people also feel guilty or ashamed and may worry that others will judge them if they found out. Understandably, this can contribute to feelings of anxiety, shame, and isolation. These feelings can also make it hard to reach out for help. In addition to the emotional impacts, physical impacts include injury to the body that may are may not need medical intervention. Some methods of self-injury carry more risk than others when it comes to injuring more severely than intended. Proper wound care is essential to ensure that injuries do not become infected or cause death. Long-term Over the long-term, people who engage in self-injury may report worsening depression or anxiety, physical consequences such as scarring, and difficulties in their close relationships. Parents and caregivers, teachers, and mental health professionals often feel frightened or confused when they find out a young person is engaging in self-injury. Although self-injury is often associated with emotional and social strain, some studies show that the process of addressing, and healing from, self-injury can bring some relationships closer and enhance self-understanding, especially when the person feels well-supported.

  • 2023 | ISSS

    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

  • If Your Child is in Therapy for Self-Injury

    Jessica Garisch, PhD, from Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand, gives a sneak peek into how she addresses self-injury and self-harm in therapy sessions with youth and their parents. Season 1 | Episode 16 Podcast/ Season 1 | Episode 16 If Your Child is in Therapy for Self-Injury Aug 6, 2021 with Dr. Jessica Garisch If Your Child is in Therapy for Self-Injury with Dr. Jessica Garisch 00:00 / 01:04 Many parents understandably want their child to stop self-injuring immediately, but cessation of self-injury is often a process and recurrence of episodes of self-injury can be expected, even when in therapy. In this episode, Dr. Jessica Garisch provides insight for parents about expectations for therapy and helping their child stop engaging in self-injury and self-harm. For instance, what do you do if your child does not seem to be putting forth effort in therapy? And if you are worried that your child may not be safe enough to go to camp or on vacation, should you keep them home? To learn more about Dr. Garisch and her work at Victoria University of Wellington, visit https://people.wgtn.ac.nz/jessica.garisch . To learn more about the Youth Wellbeing Study and its research team, visit https://youthwellbeingstudy.wordpress.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 " Top 15 Clinical Psychology Podcasts You Must Follow in 2021 " and by Welp Magazine in their " 20 Best Injury Podcasts of 2021 ." Previous Next

  • 2026 | ISSS

    Home / Awards / Invited Fellow / Dr. Jennifer L. Hughes Dr. Jennifer L. Hughes Previous Dr. Jennifer L. Hughes is a Psychologist and Clinical Scholar in Behavioral Health at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and an Associate Professor at The Ohio State University (United States), with appointments in Psychiatry and Behavioral Health and in the College of Public Health. Her research focuses on developing, testing, and disseminating evidence-based interventions to prevent and treat depression and suicide in children and adolescents. She is a co-developer of Relapse Prevention CBT for youth depression and the family-based SAFETY program for suicidal youth. Dr. Hughes is also an international trainer for the Youth Aware of Mental Health (YAM) program, implementing school-based suicide prevention programs in the U.S., Australia, and India. She has held leadership roles in the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT) and the American Psychological Association (APA), and she contributes to the NIMH ASPIRES Center for Accelerating Suicide Prevention in Real-world Settings. Dr. Hughes is recognized for her innovative work bridging research, clinical care, and community-based prevention, with a focus on building resilience and improving outcomes for youth at risk. Next ISSS Fellow | 2026

  • NSSI and other life-threatening behaviours among adolescents in China | ISSS

    2023 - 2024 Home / Collaborative Research Program / NSSI in Chinese Adolescents NSSI and other life-threatening behaviours among adolescents in China Mentor/s: Moye Xin 2024 - 2025 Project Overview Affiliation: Xhaanxi Normal University, China Project Description: My research interests mainly focus on a combination with Life-threatening behaviors (e.g., NSSI and suicidal behaviors) among other minorities (e.g., adolescents and young adults at risk) and gender study, then try to figure out the mechanism of them, with the perspective of social science and psychological methodology, meanwhile, cooperating with international platforms, if possible. Applicants should have the following skills: Basic skills of data analysis, literature review and a little bit of mind of innovation Junior researcher responsibilities: Collecting literatures and revelant data, drafting manuscripts based on their own research interests Anticipated outcome(s) for junior researcher: Able to start your own research by choosing frontiers of research field, and start to write basic literature reviews and do some basic data analysis. Time commitment: 3 days per week for 1 year Application Deadline: June 1, 2024 Apply Now

  • Parenting with Lived Experience of Self-Injury

    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

  • Self-Injury Location: Visible vs Concealed

    Kathryn Gardner, PhD, from the University of Central Lancashire in the United Kingdom discusses the significance of where on the body individuals choose to engage in self-cutting behavior and the psychology of self-injury and self-harm location. Season 2 | Episode 25 Podcast/ Season 2 | Episode 25 Self-Injury Location: Visible vs Concealed May 27, 2022 with Dr. Kathryn Gardner Self-Injury Location: Visible vs Concealed with Dr. Kathryn Gardner 00:00 / 01:04 Does it matter where on the body someone cuts, whether on typically more visible sites such as the forearm and wrist, or in typically more concealed areas, such as the upper arm and torso? Is there a relationship between where someone cuts on their body and their likelihood of continuing to engage in the behavior? In this episode, Dr. Gardner discusses her research on the psychology of self-injury location and where on the body one chooses to self-injure as well as intrapersonal (emotional) reasons and interpersonal (social) reasons for engaging in self-injury and self-harm. Learn more about Dr. Gardner and her work at https://www.uclan.ac.uk/academics/dr-kathryn-gardner , and follow her on Twitter @KathrynJGardner . Below are links to some of her research referenced in this episode: Gardner, K. J., Bickley, H., Turnbull, P., Kapur, N., Taylor, P., & Clements, C. (2020). The significance of site of cut in self-harm in young people . Journal of Affective Disorders, 266 , 603-609. Gardner, K. J., Paul, E., Selby, E. A., Klonsky, E. D., Mars, B. (2021). Intrapersonal and interpersonal functions as pathways to future self-harm repetition and suicide attempts . Frontiers in Psychology, 12 , 688472. 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

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