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Together, a dad and his young adult daughter share their story of her self-injury and self-harm. Season 3 | Episode 37 Podcast/ Season 3 | Episode 37 A Dad & Daughter Discuss Her Lived Experience of Self-Harm May 26, 2023 A Dad & Daughter Discuss Her Lived Experience of Self-Harm 00:00 / 01:04 What is a parent's role in helping their child recover from self-injury? What might a dad say about supporting his child when he learns his child is engaging in nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI)? In this episode, a father and daughter sit down to discuss her lived experience of self-injury and self-harm and how parents, especially dads, can support their child. This is a shared story. 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

2023 - 2024 Home / Collaborative Research Program / Understanding recovery... Understanding NSSI recovery Mentor/s: Penny Hasking & Stephen Lewis 2023 - 2024 Project Overview Data have been collected in Australia and Canada to assess the utility of Lewis & Hasking’s NSSI recovery framework. This person-centred approach reflects the lived experience of NSSI rather than focusing on NSSI cessation. This includes assessing: ongoing thoughts and urges to self-injure, expectations about disclosure, the nature and extent of scarring, resilience, self-efficacy and optimism. We have both qualitative and quantitative data and the final project can be decided with the candidate. Application Deadline: June 11 2023 Apply Now Previous Next

2023 - 2024 Home / Collaborative Research Program / FIS Validation Validation of a novel Future Imagery Scale and exploration in a sample of YP with and without NSSI Mentor/s: Martina Di Simplicio 2024 - 2025 Project Overview Affiliation: Imperial College London, United Kingdom Project description: Anticipatory mental imagery of self-injury often precedes engaging in NSSI. Growing evidence suggests it also plays a role in driving urges and facilitating self-injury (Lawrence et al. 2023). However, it remains unknown whether individual differences in the general use of future mental imagery, both of positive and negative valence, might be relevant to NSSI, for example in the form of less frequent or less vivid imagery of future goals and rewards. We developed a novel self-report scale seeking to assess the characteristics of future mental imagery use, the Future Imagery Scale (FIS). Approximately 250 students / young people from the general population completed the scale, as well as 50 YP with NSSI, 50 YP with disordered eating and 50 YP with negative affect but no history of NSSI/other dysregulated behaviours. These were participants from two different studies who also completed various measures of affect, impulsivity and emotion regulation. The aim of the project is to a) assess the psychometric properties of the current scale, 2) explore it's association with NSSI and other mental health measures, and 3) review and develop a final measure of the FIS Applicants should have the following skills: Some data processing skills and statistical skills (e.g. factor analysis, ANOVA); good collaborator. Junior researcher responsibilities: They will process data, conduct analysis under supervision or independently as appropriate and contribute to write-up of results. Anticipated outcome(s) for junior researcher: Exposure to numerous experimental studies in the broad field of NSSI, mental imagery and cognitive mechanism, with opportunities to also support these. Depending on level of writing skills, first or middle authorship on paper. Time commitment: Flexibile weekly hours for 2-8 months Application Deadline: June 1, 2024 Apply Now

Who We Are Home / About It is a direct expression of thusness or this-moment-as-it-is - Seo, 2007 "Enso" is a Japanese word meaning circular form and is a symbol from Zen Buddhism that represents enlightenment, strength, connection, and imperfection (Seo, 2007). The enso was chosen as the symbol for ISSS because it reflects the imperfect, cyclical nature of life. Our Mission The mission of the International Society for the Study of Self-Injury (ISSS) and its members is to promote the understanding, prevention, and treatment of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) and foster well-being among those with lived NSSI experience and those impacted by NSSI. To accomplish these aims, ISSS focuses its efforts on the following goals: Research Conduct and disseminate state-of-the art research to advance the understanding, assessment, treatment, and prevention of NSSI. Care & Support Develop, evaluate, and promote, and provide evidence-based care to advance clinical understanding of NSSI and its treatment across diverse settings. Outreach Engage in public outreach to improve knowledge of evidence-based prevention, assessment, and treatment options for NSSI. Connection Enhance networking, collaboration, and resource sharing among all stakeholders with an interest in improving the lives of people who engage in NSSI. Membership in ISSS is open to researchers, clinicians, students, people with lived experience with NSSI, advocates, and other stakeholders with an interest in improving the lives of people who engage in NSSI. Executive Board Open Positions Ready to join our leadership team? Click on each position to learn more and apply! Treasurer The Treasurer fulfils a crucial administrative role and is responsible for the receipt, custody, and disbursement of all funds and securities of ISSS. They are also responsible for all financial and security related records and communications. Representative at Large: Membership The Rep. at Large (Membership) ensures the growth, satisfaction, and active involvement of ISSS members. Through collaboration and outreach, the Membership RAL fosters and maintains a vibrant, engaged, and expanding community of members. Representative at Large: Social Media The Rep. at Large (Social Media) is responsible for the online presence of ISSS, promoting its mission, activities, and initiatives to stakeholders through consistent and creative engagement across social media platforms. Student Representative Student Representatives are critical members of the ISSS Executive Board. They serve as a liaison between student Members and the Board, advocating for student interests and cultivating community and connection among the student body. Meet the Leadership ISSS is led by a team of experts in the field and comprises researchers, clinicians, students, advocates, and most importantly, individuals with lived experience of self-injury. All members of the Executive Board are democratically elected by the ISSS Membership, with positions holding varying terms. Find open appointments and meet the team below! A/Prof. Nicholas Westers President Dr. Karl Tooher Secretary-Elect Jason Washburn, PhD Founding Treasurer Professor Stephen Lewis Chair of Strategic Planning Ruth Tatnell, PhD International Member at Large Professor Marc Wilson International Member at Large Brooke Ammermann, PhD Representative at Large Kaylee Kruzan, PhD Representative at Large Greg Lengel, PhD Chair of Media & Communications Michelle Hiner, MS Webmaster Michaela Ahrenholtz, MS Student Representative Professor Imke Baetens Past President Elizabeth Lloyd-Richardson, PhD Past President Our History From list-serve to leaders The International Society for the Study of Self-Injury was esta blished in 2006 by a group of passionate and curious researchers led by Janis Whitlo ck and Nancy Heath. Today, ISSS boasts more than100 members dedicated to our mission. Learn more below about how ISSS came to be the leading international organisation for the study of self-injury. Pre-ISSS In January of 2005, a year before the first ISSS meeting, the findings of the Adolescent Mental Health Initiative were disseminated in a book titled, Treating and Preventing Adolescent Mental Health Disorders: What We Know and What We Don’t Know . Although intended to summarize the state of the field in adolescent mental health disorders, the volume included no more than half of a page on nonsuicidal self-Injury (NSSI). The absence of NSSI in this volume largely r eflected its nominal presence in academic journals prior to this point. Despite its absence in the literature however, its growing presence in clinical and non-clinical settings had begun to command the attention of a small but increasing group of scholars from diverse disciplines. Although acquainted with each others’ work, there were few forums through which these scholars regularly, if ever, came together as a group. The First Meeting In response to this growing gap between the literature and field experience, Nancy Heath’s Research Team at McGill University initiated a list-serve for professionals interested in the study of self-injury. This was a means of encouraging communication among NSSI scholars within and outside of the US. Shortly after this, in 2006, Janis Whitlock and several colleagues from Cornell University invited a small group of NSSI researchers and treatment specialists to attend a meeting devoted to discussion of what we knew, what we needed to know, and strategies for building a larger field of research and collaboration. The opportunity for exchange created by the gathering was well received and very productive. By the end of the second day, the group had identified a name for the association and plans for continuing ISSS were set. By the group’s second meeting the following year, hosted by Nancy Heath at McGill, over 20 new collaborations had been formed and the group’s membership had swelled considerably. During the third year’s meeting, hosted by Matt Nock at Harvard University, the group collectively decided to begin the process of developing a formal charter and membership. By the fifth year, hosted by David Klonsky at Stony Brook University, we had appointed our first round of officers. The Organisation Today Today, we comprise over 100 members and are in our 17th year of research, care, outreach, and connection. ISSS hosts vibrant and intellectually stimulating annual meetings and fosters meaningful and productive collaborations. Although ISSS continues to expand, our commitment to improving the field of NSSI remains unchanged. Be part of an organisation dedicated to improving wellbeing and reducing stigma, join u s today .

Glenn Kiekens, PhD, from KU Leuven University in Belgium discusses how researchers measure self-injury and self-harm in real time using advances in technology. Season 1 | Episode 11 Podcast/ Season 1 | Episode 11 Monitoring Self-Injury in Real Time Apr 23, 2021 with Dr. Glenn Kiekens Monitoring Self-Injury in Real Time with Dr. Glenn Kiekens 00:00 / 01:04 How do we assess self-injury differently than 20-30 years ago? Rather than asking someone to remember how they were thinking and feeling when they last self-injured days, weeks, and even months ago, advances in technology allow researchers and clinicians to monitor self-injury and self-harm in real time, as it occurs. In this episode, Dr. Glenn Kiekens discusses the advantages of adapting real-time monitoring (also known as experience sampling or ecological momentary assessment [EMA]) in researching nonsuicidal self-injury as well as the ethical concerns to consider when doing research in real time. Learn more about Dr. Kiekens and his work in the Center for Contextual Psychiatry at KU Leuven by clicking here . Follow Dr. Kiekens on Twitter @GKiekens . Below are links to some of his research and the resources referenced in this episode: Opening the black box of daily life in non-suicidal self-injury research: With great opportunity comes great responsibility (preprint available at https://psyarxiv.com/yp86x ) Fluctuations in affective states and self-efficacy to resist non-suicidal self-injury as real-time predictors of non-suicidal self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (2020) Consensus statement on ethical & safety practices for conducting digital monitoring studies with people at risk of suicide and related behaviors (Nock et al., 2020) Revealing the form and function of self-injurious thoughts and behaviors: A real-time ecological assessment study among adolescents and young adults (Nock, Prinstein, & Sterba, 2009) Changes in ecological momentary assessment reported affect associated with episodes of nonsuicidal self-Injury (Armey, Crowther, & Miller, 2011) Follow Dr. Westers on Instagram and Twitter (@DocWesters). To join ISSS, visit itriples.org and follow ISSS on Facebook and Twitter (@ITripleS). Previous Next

Ruth Tatnell, PhD, from Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia describes how the COVID-19 pandemic and first lockdown affected rates of self-injury and self-harm. Season 3 | Episode 33 Podcast/ Season 3 | Episode 33 Did Self-Injury Increase During the COVID-19 Lockdown? Jan 27, 2023 with Dr. Ruth Tatnell Did Self-Injury Increase During the COVID-19 Lockdown? with Dr. Ruth Tatnell 00:00 / 01:04 Early in the pandemic there was a lot of talk about how the initial lockdown and stay-at-home orders would affect people’s mental health, including risk for suicide and nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI). In this episode, Dr. Ruth Tatnell answers questions about the pandemic's effects on rates of self-injury: Did the initial lockdown of the COVID-19 pandemic increase self-injury urges and behaviors like many people thought would happen? And do we know if self-harm has increased, decreased, or stayed the same since the first lockdown of the pandemic? Learn more about Dr. Tatnell and her work at Deakin University here , and connect with her on LinkedIn here . Below is her publication discussed in this month's episode as well as additional articles referenced in our interview: Tatnell, R., Terhaag, S., & Melvin, G. (2023). Covid-19 lockdown and non-suicidal self-injury: A Mixed methods analysis of NSSI during Australia's national lockdown . Archives of Suicide Research . Online ahead of print. Tanaka, T., & Okamoto, S. (2021). Increase in suicide following an initial decline during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan . Nature Human Behaviour, 5 (2), 229–238. Read about the Harvard Happiness Study published in The Atlantic here . Read about the Cigna loneliness study here and their tips for addressing loneliness 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

Brittany Tinsley of @brittanytinsleywrites Instagram explains how she navigates talking about her wounds and scars of self-injury and self-harm with her medical providers during routine doctor visits. Season 1 | Episode 18 Podcast/ Season 1 | Episode 18 Navigating Self-Injury During Routine Doctor Visits Oct 1, 2021 with Brittany Tinsley Navigating Self-Injury During Routine Doctor Visits with Brittany Tinsley 00:00 / 01:04 If you’ve never engaged in self-injury or self-harm, then you may have never considered the anxieties related to something as seemingly simple as a routine doctor visit. In this episode, Brittany Tinsley explains what questions she asks herself prior to attending routine doctor visits in order to ease her anxiety about medical providers seeing her self-injury wounds and scars. We take a unique peek into what doctor visits can be like for those who self-injure or have self-injured, as well as discuss tips on navigating those visits, whether as a treatment provider or someone with lived experience. 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 " Top 15 Clinical Psychology Podcasts You Must Follow in 2021 " and by Welp Magazine in their " 20 Best Injury Podcasts of 2021 ." 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

Ben from California shares his story of lived experience of self-injury as a man, including how he views recovery and copes with significant scarring from self-harm wounds. Season 5 | Episode 59 Podcast/ Season 5 | Episode 59 Lived Experience: Ben's Story of Self-Injury Mar 28, 2025 Lived Experience: Ben's Story of Self-Injury 00:00 / 01:04 In this episode, Ben Moroski from Los Angeles, CA, shares his story of lived experience of self-injury that began at age 17 when he and his family found themselves in a religious cult. He articulately communicates therapeutic gems he has learned throughout his journey of recovery while remaining honest with how he manages persisting urges to self-harm. Watch his autobiographical solo one man play about his struggle with self-injury at https://vimeo.com/107909913 , and follow him on Instagram @bmoroski . 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

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

Taylor Burke, PhD, from Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital discusses the psychological effects of scars resulting from self-injury and self-harm. Season 2 | Episode 31 Podcast/ Season 2 | Episode 31 The Psychology of Self-Injury Scarring Nov 25, 2022 with Dr. Taylor Burke The Psychology of Self-Injury Scarring with Dr. Taylor Burke 00:00 / 01:04 How are scars from nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) different than physical scars that are unintentional or result from non-self-inflicted wounds ? What psychological effects can result from daily reminders of one's own decision to self-harm? Is there an association between NSSI scars and suicidal thoughts and behaviors? In this episode, Dr. Burke discusses the mixed relationship that many people who self-injure have with the scars they bear from NSSI and how some may feel the need to hide their scars even from themselves. Learn more about Dr. Burke and her work by clicking here or visiting the Mood & Behavior Lab (MABL) at www.moodandbehaviorlab.org . Follow her on Twitter @TaylorABurkePhD . Below are some of her publications and papers referenced in this episode: Burke, T. A., Ammerman, B. A., Hamilton, J. L., Stange, J. P., & Piccirillo, M. (2020). Nonsuicidal self-injury scar concealment from the self and others . Journal of Psychiatric Research, 130 , 313-320. Burke, T. A., Olino, T. M., & Alloy, L. B. (2017). Initial psychometric validation of the nonsuicidal self-injury scar cognition scale . Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 39 , 546–562. Burke, T. A., Hamilton, J. L., Cohen, J. N., Stange, J. P., & Alloy, L. B. (2016). Identifying a physical indicator of suicide risk: non-suicidal self-injury scars predict suicidal ideation and suicide attempts . Comprehensive Psychiatry, 65 , 79–87. Bachtelle, S. E., & Pepper, C. M. (2015). The physical results of nonsuicidal self-injury: The meaning behind the scars . The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 203 (12), 927-933. 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