The Psychology of Self-Injury: Exploring Self-Harm & Mental Health

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: Emotion Regulation Group Therapy (ERGT). Drs. Kim Gratz and Matthew Tull from the University of Toledo in Ohio walk us through in significant detail each of the 90-minute 14 sessions of ERGT. You can purchase their book "Acceptance-based emotion regulation therapy: A clinician’s guide to treating emotion dysregulation and self-destructive behaviors using an evidence-based therapy drawn from ACT and DBT" on Amazon here or at New Harbinger Publications here. Connect with Dr. Gratz on LinkedIn here and Dr. Tull here. Below are links to their research on ERGT referenced in this episode: Preliminary data on an acceptance-based emotion regulation group intervention for deliberate self-harm among women with Borderline Personality DisorderBehavior Therapy, 37Extending research on the utility of an adjunctive emotion regulation group therapy for deliberate self-harm among women with borderline personality pathology Personality Disorders: Theory, Research, and Treatment, 2Randomized controlled trial and uncontrolled 9-month follow-up of an adjunctive emotion regulation group therapy for deliberate self-harm among women with borderline personality disordePsychological Medicine, 44Mechanisms of change in an emotion regulation group therapy for deliberate self-harm among women with borderline personality disorderBehaviour Research and Therapy, 65Emotion regulation group therapy for deliberate self-harm: A multi-site evaluation in routine care using an uncontrolled open trial designBMJ Open, 7 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."

How can schools appropriately respond to students who engage in nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI), whether the behavior occurs at home, on school grounds, or elsewhere? What protocols exist to support schools to better respond to students who self-injure? What role does liability play? In this episode, Dr. Nancy Heath of McGill University in Montreal, Canada explains how schools can support students who engage in self-injury and self-harm. Learn more about Dr. Heath's work here, and learn more about her work with the Development and Intrapersonal Resilience (DAIR) Research Team here. Learn more about the International Consortium on Self-Injury in Educational Settings (ICSES) at http://icsesgroup.org/. Self-injury Outreach & Support (SiOS) offers resources for schools here and a list of do's and don'ts here. Visit SiOS at http://sioutreach.org and follow them on Facebook (www.facebook.com/sioutreach) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/sioutreach). Below are links to some of Dr. Heath's research as well as resources referenced in this episode: Developing a policy, and professional development for school staff, to address and respond to nonsuicidal self-injury in schoolsInternational Perspectives in Psychology: Research, Practice, Consultation, 9Developing a policy to address nonsuicidal self-injury in schoolsJournal of School Health, 85Addressing self-injury in schools, part 1: understanding nonsuicidal self-injury and the importance of respectful curiosity in supporting youth who engage in self-injuryNASN School Nurse, 35Addressing self-injury in schools, part 2: how school nurses can help with supporting assessment, ongoing care, and referral for treatment NASN School Nurse, 35Advocacy for improved response to self-injury in schools: A call to action for school psychologists Psychological Services, 17Non-suicidal self-injury in our schools: a review and research-informed guidelines for school mental health professionals Canadian Journal of School Psychology, 32Helping schools support caregivers of youth who self-injure: Considerations and recommendationsSchool Psychology International, 39Position paper for guiding response to non-suicidal self-injury in schoolsSchool Psychology International, 37hereSelf-Injury in Youth: The Essential Guide to Assessment and InterventionFollow 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 as one of the "10 Best Self Harm Podcasts" and "20 Best Clinical Psychology Podcasts" by Feedspot and one of the Top 100 Psychology Podcasts by Goodpods. It has also been featured in Audible's "Best Mental Health Podcasts to Defy Stigma and Begin to Heal."

In this episode, Dr. Christian Schmahl from Heidelberg University and Mannheim, Germany, answers a listener's question and talks about his experimental research assessing how seeing blood affects heart rate and arousal among both those who engage in nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) and those who don't. He also shares insights into the role of self and blood in ritual and nonritual self-injury, including examples from different cultures about how they may interpret blood differently in the context of self-harm and even trance-like states. To learn more about Dr. Schmahl and his work, visit here. To stay up-to-date on next year's ISSS conference in Stockholm, Sweden (Wed-Fri June 24-26, 2026), visit https://www.itriples.org/conferences. Below are a few papers referenced in today's episode: The role of seeing blood in non-suicidal self-injuryJournal of Clinical Psychology, 66The role of seeing blood in non-suicidal self-injury in female patients with borderline personality disorderPsychiatry Research, 246The effects of blood in self-injurious cutting: Positive and negative affect regulationJournal of Clinical Psychology, 78The role of self and blood in ritual and nonritual self-injuryThe Oxford handbook of nonsuicidal self-injury 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 as one of the "10 Best Self Harm Podcasts" and "20 Best Clinical Psychology Podcasts" by Feedspot and one of the Top 100 Psychology Podcasts by Goodpods. It has also been featured in Audible's "Best Mental Health Podcasts to Defy Stigma and Begin to Heal."

In this episode, host and producer of The Psychology of Self-Injury podcast, Dr. Nicholas Westers, shares his own thoughts about how media portray nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) as well as suicide and mass shootings. He walks us through media guidelines for responsibly reporting and depicting each in the news, including the first ever NSSI media guidelines he published with ISSS colleagues. This marks the second solo episode of the podcast. Media Guidelines: Suicidehereherereportingonsuicide.orgMass Shootingswww.rtdna.org/mass-shootingsNonsuicidal Self-Injury (NSSI)British Journal of Psychiatryhereselfinjury.bctr.cornell.eduhereMedia guidelines for the responsible reporting and depicting of non-suicidal self-injuryThe British Journal of Psychiatry, 219Media representations of nonsuicidal self-injuryThe Oxford handbook of nonsuicidal self-injuryThe influence of suggestion on suicide: Substantive and theoretical implications of the Werther effectAmerican Sociological Review, 39Role of media reports in completed and prevented suicide: Werther v. Papageno effectsThe British Journal of Psychiatry, 197Follow 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 as one of the "10 Best Self Harm Podcasts" and "20 Best Clinical Psychology Podcasts" by Feedspot and one of the Top 100 Psychology Podcasts by Goodpods. It has also been featured in Audible's "Best Mental Health Podcasts to Defy Stigma and Begin to Heal."

In this episode, Dr. Rachel Zelkowitz defines trauma and its prevalence among individuals who self-injure, delineates posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from complex PTSD (C-PTSD), and discusses common treatments for addressing trauma, including Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Prolonged Exposure (PE). With interest in treating military veterans and active duty service members, Dr. Zelkowitz provides insights into nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI), self-harm, and trauma among military members. Learn more about Dr. Zelkowitz and her work here, and learn more about common treatments for trauma at the National Center for PTSD at www.ptsd.va.gov. Below are links to some of the research referenced in today's episode: The prevalence of nonsuicidal self-injury in military personnel: A systematic review and meta-analysisTrauma Violence Abuse, 24Childhood maltreatment and non-suicidal self- injury: A systematic review and meta-analysisLancet Psychiatry, 5Treating PTSD in suicidal and self-injuring women with borderline personality disorder: Development and preliminary evaluation of a Dialectical Behavior Therapy Prolonged Exposure ProtocolBehaviour Research and Therapy, 50Does adding the Dialectical Behavior Therapy Prolonged Exposure (DBT PE) protocol for PTSD to DBT improve outcomes in public mental health settings? A pilot nonrandomized effectiveness trial with benchmarkingBehavior Therapy, 52Follow 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 as one of the "10 Best Self Harm Podcasts" and "20 Best Clinical Psychology Podcasts" by Feedspot and one of the Top 100 Psychology Podcasts by Goodpods. It has also been featured in Audible's "Best Mental Health Podcasts to Defy Stigma and Begin to Heal."

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: Healing self-injury: A compassionate guide for parents and other loved onesAssociations between connections to parents and friends and non-suicidal self-injury among adolescents: The mediating role of developmental assetsClinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 25Genetics and epigenetics of nonsuicidal self-injury: A narrative reviewRussian Journal of Genetics, 59Knowledge of parental nonsuicidal self-injury in young people who self-injure: The mediating role of outcome expectanciesJournal of Family Studies, 27Want to have a bigger role on the podcast?: thisifyour thepsychologyofselfinjury@gmail.comthepsychologyofselfinjury@gmail.comFollow 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 as one of the "10 Best Self Harm Podcasts" and "20 Best Clinical Psychology Podcasts" by Feedspot and one of the Top 100 Psychology Podcasts by Goodpods. It has also been featured in Audible's "Best Mental Health Podcasts to Defy Stigma and Begin to Heal."

In this episode, four of the top experts in researching and treating nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) talk about the research behind NSSI Disorder, the evolution of how they now think about NSSI within the context of the DSM, and why they now advocate for an NSSI specifier rather than an NSSI Disorder in the DSM. They also delineate their proposed criteria for self-harm as a specifier and both the positive and negative consequences of doing so. Below are papers referenced in this episode: Non-suicidal self-injury: proposal to shift designation from disorder to a clinical specifierThe Lancet PsychiatryProposal to the DSM-V childhood disorder and mood disorder work groups to include non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) as a DSM-V disorderAmerican Psychiatric AssociationSelf-injurious behavior as a separate clinical syndromeAmerican Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 75Diagnostic classification of nonsuicidal self-injuryNonsuicidal self-injury: Advances in research and practiceNONSUICIDAL SELF-INJURY SPECIFIER (PROPOSED CRITERIA): A. The specifier should be used when the nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) behavior is characterized by the following: Note: culturally specific NSSI behavior (e.g., piercings and tattoos) and harm that is habitual (e.g., scab picking, nail biting, and hair pulling) should not be considered to be NSSI unless the behavior is explicitly for the purposes of causing damage or pain to one’s body. The NSSI specifier can still be applied if the behavior occurs under the influence of substances, as long as the behavior meets the required features. Coding note: use code Z91.52 for individuals with a previous history of NSSI when all criteria except for recency are met (A2). Want to have a bigger role on the podcast?: thisifyour thepsychologyofselfinjury@gmail.comthepsychologyofselfinjury@gmail.comFollow 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 as one of the "10 Best Self Harm Podcasts" and "20 Best Clinical Psychology Podcasts" by Feedspot and one of the Top 100 Psychology Podcasts by Goodpods. It has also been featured in Audible's "Best Mental Health Podcasts to Defy Stigma and Begin to Heal."

In this episode, Nani Kim, RN from the University of Texas at Austin talks all things help-seeking for nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI). This includes common reasons people give for choosing to seek help for self-harm, common forms of help-seeking behavior for NSSI, how often individuals who self-injure seek help for their self-injury, why they choose to seek help, what types of help they receive, and what happens when they seek help for self-injury. Below are a few references from this episode: Help-seeking behaviors in adolescents and young adults who engage in nonsuicidal self-injury: An integrative reviewJournal of Adolescent HealthDeterminants of help seeking behaviour: The effects of helper’s similarity, task centrality and recipient’s self esteemEuropean Journal of Social Psychology, 17The boy, the mole, the fox and the horse: Inspiring conversations on hope, love and personal growthWant to have a bigger role on the podcast?: thisifyour thepsychologyofselfinjury@gmail.comthepsychologyofselfinjury@gmail.comFollow 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 as one of the "10 Best Self Harm Podcasts" and "20 Best Clinical Psychology Podcasts" by Feedspot and one of the Top 100 Psychology Podcasts by Goodpods. It has also been featured in Audible's "Best Mental Health Podcasts to Defy Stigma and Begin to Heal."

Dr. Kirsty Hird, a Research Officer in the Youth Mental Health team at The Kids Research Institute Australia, adds to Episode 1 of The Psychology of Self-Injury podcast by explaining in depth and in layman's terms why people self-injure according to the six most common/popular theoretical models. Connect with Dr. Hird on LinkedIn here, view her staff profile here, and follow her on ResearchGate here. Below are two of her papers related to today's interview as well as a few other resources referenced in this episode: A comparison of the theoretical models of NSSIThe Oxford handbook of nonsuicidal self-injury Relationships between outcome expectancies and non-suicidal self-injury: Moderating roles of emotion regulation difficulties and self-efficacy to resist self-injuryArchives of Suicide Research, 26Profiling ambivalence in the context of nonsuicidal self-injuryJournal of Clinical Psychology, 79(8)Targeting self-criticism in the treatment of nonsuicidal self-injury in dialectical behavior therapy for adolescents: a randomized clinical trial Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 26Acceptance-based emotion regulation therapy: A clinician’s guide to treating emotion dysregulation and self-destructive behaviors using an evidence-based therapy drawn from ACT and DBTBelow are links to the original 6 theoretical models discussed in this episode: Four Function Model -A functional approach to the assessment of self-mutilative behaviorJournal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 72Experiential Avoidance Model -Solving the puzzle of deliberate self-harm: The experiential avoidance modelBehaviour Research and Therapy, 44Emotional Cascade Model - Cascades of emotion: The emergence of borderline personality disorder from emotional and behavioral dysregulationReview of General Psychology, 13Integrated Model - Self-injuryAnnual Review of Clinical Psychology, 6Cognitive-Emotional Model - A cognitive-emotional model of NSSI: Using emotion regulation and cognitive processes to explain why people self-injureCognition and Emotion, 31Barriers and Benefits Model - Why do people hurt themselves? A new conceptual model of nonsuicidal self-injuryClinical Psychological Science, 6Want to have a bigger role on the podcast?: thisifyour thepsychologyofselfinjury@gmail.comthepsychologyofselfinjury@gmail.comFollow 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 as one of the "10 Best Self Harm Podcasts" and "20 Best Clinical Psychology Podcasts" by Feedspot and one of the Top 100 Psychology Podcasts by Goodpods. It has also been featured in Audible's "Best Mental Health Podcasts to Defy Stigma and Begin to Heal."

Just how prevalent is self-injury among older adults, specifically those ages 60 and over? 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. Lisa Van Hove from Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Brussels University) is the first to reveal the prevalence of self-injury and self-harm among older adults. To see Dr. Van Hove's publications, including those about self-injury among older adults, click here. Connect with Dr. Van Hove on LinkedIn here. Below is some of her research and that of others referenced in this episode: NSSI in older adultsThe Oxford handbook of nonsuicidal self-injury Psychogeriatric experts’ experiences with risk factors of suicidal and non-suicidal self-injury in older adults: A qualitative studyQualitative Research in Medicine and Healthcare8Conceptualizing self-harm through the experiences of psychogeriatric expertsPsychopathology57Biopsychosocial profile of community-dwelling older adults at risk for direct and indirect self-harmClinical GerontologistJournal of Personality Disorders.Risk factors for repetition and suicide following self-harm in older adults: multicentre cohort studyBritish Journal of Psychiatry, 200Non-suicidal self-injury in the over 40s: Results from a large national epidemiological surveyEpidemiology (Sunnyvale), 6Nonsuicidal self-injury and suicide attempts among ED patients older than 50 years: comparison of risk factors and ED visit outcomesThe American Journal of Emergency Medicine, 34Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) in adult psychiatric outpatients – A nationwide studyJournal of Psychiatric Research, 133Clinical characteristics in older, middle-aged and young adults who present with suicide attempts at psychiatric emergency departments: A multisite studyThe American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 30Acceptance-based emotion regulation therapy: A clinician’s guide to treating emotion dysregulation & self-destructive behaviors using an evidence-based therapy drawn from ACT & DBTWant to have a bigger role on the podcast?: thisifyour thepsychologyofselfinjury@gmail.comthepsychologyofselfinjury@gmail.comFollow 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 as one of the "10 Best Self Harm Podcasts" and "20 Best Clinical Psychology Podcasts" by Feedspot and one of the Top 100 Psychology Podcasts by Goodpods. It has also been featured in Audible's "Best Mental Health Podcasts to Defy Stigma and Begin to Heal."

In this episode, Dr. Moye Xin from the School of Economic and Administration at Xi'an University in the Shaanxi Province of central China discusses how nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is viewed in Asia and shares his thoughts about how gender role conflict may affect rates of self-harm among university students, particularly young Chinese men. Connect with Dr. Xin on ResearchGate at www.researchgate.net/profile/Moye-Xin or visit his work on SciProfiles at sciprofiles.com/profile/1469611. Below are a few of his research studies referenced in this episode: Nonsuicidal self-injury among Chinese university students during the post-COVID-19 era: analysis of sex differences and the impact of gender role conflictFrontiers in Psychology, 15Risky or protective? Online social support's impact on nssi amongst Chinese youth experiencing stressful life eventsBMC Psychiatry, 22"Boy crisis" or "girl risk"? The gender difference in nonsuicidal self-injurious behavior among middle-school students in China and its relationship to gender role conflict and violent experiencesAmerican Journal of Men's Health, 12Want to have a bigger role on the podcast?: thisifyour 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 as one of the "10 Best Self Harm Podcasts" and "20 Best Clinical Psychology Podcasts" by Feedspot and one of the Top 100 Psychology Podcasts by Goodpods. It has also been featured in Audible's "Best Mental Health Podcasts to Defy Stigma and Begin to Heal."

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. Want to have a bigger role on the podcast?: thisifyour thepsychologyofselfinjury@gmail.comthepsychologyofselfinjury@gmail.comFollow 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 as one of the "10 Best Self Harm Podcasts" and "20 Best Clinical Psychology Podcasts" by Feedspot and one of the Top 100 Psychology Podcasts by Goodpods. It has also been featured in Audible's "Best Mental Health Podcasts to Defy Stigma and Begin to Heal."

In this episode, Dr. Sylvanna Mirichlis from Curtin University in Perth, Australia, and ISSS Past President Dr. Stephen Lewis from the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada share about the origins of the annual March 1st Self-Injury Awareness Day (SIAD), what people around the world are doing as part of this day, and what our ISSS Stigma, Recovery, and Lived Experience Special Interest Group is doing to boost awareness of self-injury. We also share some of our favorite clips from past episodes. Self-Injury Resources: https://itriples.org/http://sioutreach.org/www.selfinjury.bctr.cornell.eduhttps://www.self-injury.org.au/Understanding self-injury: A person-centered approachhttps://youtu.be/G17iMOw0ar8Timestamps for clips from past episodes: Lived experience: Kirsty's story of self-injury & advocacyPsychologists with lived experience of self-injury, with Dr. Sarah VictorSelf-injury stigma and language, with Dr. Penelope HaskingLived experience: Thomas' story of self-injury & gender dysphoriaSelf-harm across cultures, with Dr. Marc WilsonThe psychology of self-injury scarring, with Dr. Taylor BurkeA dad & daughter discuss her lived experience of self-harmParenting youth who self-injure, with Dr. Janis WhitlockSupporting siblings of individuals who self-harm, with Dr. Amy LucasWant to have a bigger role on the podcast?: thisifyour thepsychologyofselfinjury@gmail.comthepsychologyofselfinjury@gmail.comFollow 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 as one of the "10 Best Self Harm Podcasts" and "20 Best Clinical Psychology Podcasts" by Feedspot and one of the Top 100 Psychology Podcasts by Goodpods. It has also been featured in Audible's "Best Mental Health Podcasts to Defy Stigma and Begin to Heal."

In this episode, Spencer Ellison and Dr. Jennifer Muehlenkamp read a hypothetical case vignette of a client who engages in nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI), has experienced suicidal thoughts or behaviors, or is experiencing significant depression. They then tell us how willing therapists are to treat each case (self-injury vs. suicide vs. depression), if therapists would accept them into their clinical practice, and if it depends on the therapists' (1) liability concerns, (2) comfort/skill confidence to treat self-harm, (3) attitude toward self-harm in general, and (4) attitude towards clients who self-harm. Learn more about Dr. Muehlenkamp at her University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire faculty page here, and see her growing list of peer-reviewed publications on Google Scholar here. Learn more about Trinity Equestrian Center at www.trinity-ec.com. Below are a couple research studies referenced in this episode: To treat or not to treat: The effect of hypothetical patients' suicidal severity on therapists' willingness to treatArchives of Suicide Research, 24Psychologists’ willingness to provide services to individuals at risk of suicideSuicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, 49Want to have a bigger role on the podcast?: thisifyour 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 as one of the "10 Best Self Harm Podcasts" and "20 Best Clinical Psychology Podcasts" by Feedspot and one of the Top 100 Psychology Podcasts by Goodpods. It has also been featured in Audible's "Best Mental Health Podcasts to Defy Stigma and Begin to Heal." Goodpods Top 100 Parents Podcasts Listen now to The Psychology of Self-Injury: Exploring Self-Harm & Mental Health podcast Goodpods Top 100 Research Podcasts Listen now to The Psychology of Self-Injury: Exploring Self-Harm & Mental Health podcast

What is paramedical tattooing and scar camouflage and how is it different than other treatments for self-injury scars? Not everyone with lived experience of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) wants or needs to address self-harm scars, but some may choose to reduce or get rid of them as part of their recovery journey. Elena from Illusions by Ink Studio (https://illusionsbyinkstudio.com/) walks us through her approach to paramedical tattooing for self-injury. Her client "H" joins the conversation, sharing her experience as someone with lived experience of NSSI and why she chose this type of tattooing for her self-injury scars. Connect with Elena on Instagram @illusionsbyink_studio, on Facebook here, and on YouTube @Scarcamouflagetattoo. You can reach her at elena@illusionsbyinkstudio.com. Below are a couple papers referenced in this episode: Nonsuicidal self-injury and its relation to personality traits in medical studentsThe Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 202Treating nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) in adolescents: consensus based German guidelinesChild and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health, 10Want to have a bigger role on the podcast?: thisifyour 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 as one of the "10 Best Self Harm Podcasts" and "20 Best Clinical Psychology Podcasts" by Feedspot and one of the Top 100 Psychology Podcasts by Goodpods. It has also been featured in Audible's "Best Mental Health Podcasts to Defy Stigma and Begin to Heal." Goodpods Top 100 Parents Podcasts Listen now to The Psychology of Self-Injury: Exploring Self-Harm & Mental Health podcast Goodpods Top 100 Research Podcasts Listen now to The Psychology of Self-Injury: Exploring Self-Harm & Mental Health podcast

In this episode, Ellie from the United Kingdom and National Health Service (NHS) shares her lived experience of atypical severe self-injury while participating in a psychiatric inpatient stay for an acute increase in severity of eating disorder symptoms. She discusses how she has used her experiences as a patient and recipient of mental healthcare in the UK to bring about systemic change, participate as a co-producer and research, and advocate for those with lived experience of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) and self-harm. While participating in our interview while in inpatient care, we invite her live-in care provider (i.e., carer), Shami, to join our conversation and offer her own insights. Connect with Ellie on LinkedIn here and on Twitter/X @EllieWildbore. Visit her blog at https://balancingontheborderline.home.blog/. Learn more about Atypical Severe Self-Injury by listening to our episode with Dr. Barry Walsh on the topic from Season 1 here. Want to have a bigger role on the podcast?: thisifyour 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 as one of the "10 Best Self Harm Podcasts" and "20 Best Clinical Psychology Podcasts" by Feedspot and one of the Top 100 Psychology Podcasts by Goodpods. It has also been featured in Audible's "Best Mental Health Podcasts to Defy Stigma and Begin to Heal." Goodpods Top 100 Parents Podcasts Listen now to The Psychology of Self-Injury: Exploring Self-Harm & Mental Health podcast Goodpods Top 100 Research Podcasts Listen now to The Psychology of Self-Injury: Exploring Self-Harm & Mental Health podcast

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: Nonsuicidal self-injury, mental health service use, and cultural perspectives among ethnically diverse university studentsCanadian Journal of Community Mental Health, 42Nonsuicidal self-injury across cultures and ethnic and racial minorities: A reviewInternational Journal of Psychology, 52Non-suicidal self-injury in a sample of university students in Tehran, Iran: prevalence, characteristics and risk factorsInternational Journal of Culture and Mental Health10Cultural interpretations of nonsuicidal self-injury and suicide: Insights from around the worldClinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 29Want to have a bigger role on the podcast?: thisifyour 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 as one of the "10 Best Self Harm Podcasts" and "20 Best Clinical Psychology Podcasts" by Feedspot and one of the Top 100 Psychology Podcasts by Goodpods. It has also been featured in Audible's "Best Mental Health Podcasts to Defy Stigma and Begin to Heal." Goodpods Top 100 Parents Podcasts Listen now to The Psychology of Self-Injury: Exploring Self-Harm & Mental Health podcast Goodpods Top 100 Research Podcasts Listen now to The Psychology of Self-Injury: Exploring Self-Harm & Mental Health podcast

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: Noradrenaline increases hyperalgesia to heat in skin sensitized by capsaicinPain, 60Color hurts. The effect of color on pain perceptionPain Medicine, 20Frequency and functions of non-suicidal self-injury: Associations with suicidal thoughts and behaviorsPsychiatry Research, 225Want to have a bigger role on the podcast?: thisifyour 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 as one of the "10 Best Self Harm Podcasts" and "20 Best Clinical Psychology Podcasts" by Feedspot and one of the Top 100 Psychology Podcasts by Goodpods. It has also been featured in Audible's "Best Mental Health Podcasts to Defy Stigma and Begin to Heal." Goodpods Top 100 Parents Podcasts Listen now to The Psychology of Self-Injury: Exploring Self-Harm & Mental Health podcast Goodpods Top 100 Research Podcasts Listen now to The Psychology of Self-Injury: Exploring Self-Harm & Mental Health podcast

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: Effect of internet-delivered Emotion Regulation Individual Therapy for Adolescents with Nonsuicidal Self-Injury Disorder: A randomized clinical trialJAMA Network Open, 6Extending research on emotion regulation individual therapy for adolescents (ERITA) with nonsuicidal self-injury disorder: Open pilot trial and mediation analysis of a novel online versionBMC Psychiatry, 18Emotion regulation individual therapy for adolescents with nonsuicidal self-injury disorder: A feasibility studyBMC Psychiatry, 17Want to have a bigger role on the podcast?: thisifyour 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 as one of the "10 Best Self Harm Podcasts" and "20 Best Clinical Psychology Podcasts" by Feedspot and one of the Top 100 Psychology Podcasts by Goodpods. It has also been featured in Audible's "Best Mental Health Podcasts to Defy Stigma and Begin to Heal." Goodpods Top 100 Parents Podcasts Listen now to The Psychology of Self-Injury: Exploring Self-Harm & Mental Health podcast Goodpods Top 100 Research Podcasts Listen now to The Psychology of Self-Injury: Exploring Self-Harm & Mental Health podcast

In this episode, host and producer of The Psychology of Self-Injury podcast, Dr. Nicholas Westers, shares his own thoughts about what we should consider when supporting friends, families, clients, and patients who engage in nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI). This marks the first solo episode of the podcast, and Dr. Westers offers ways for listeners to have a bigger role on the podcast, including: thisifyour Below are a couple papers related to this episode with Dr. Westers: Westers, N. J., The role of forgiveness in adolescents who engage in nonsuicidal self-injury.The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 200Westers, N. J.Nonsuicidal self-injury risk assessment, intervention, and guidance for first responders and medical settingsThe Oxford handbook of nonsuicidal self-injuryFollow 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 as one of the "10 Best Self Harm Podcasts" and "20 Best Clinical Psychology Podcasts" by Feedspot and one of the Top 100 Psychology Podcasts by Goodpods. It has also been featured in Audible's "Best Mental Health Podcasts to Defy Stigma and Begin to Heal." Goodpods Top 100 Parents Podcasts Listen now to The Psychology of Self-Injury: Exploring Self-Harm & Mental Health podcast Goodpods Top 100 Research Podcasts Listen now to The Psychology of Self-Injury: Exploring Self-Harm & Mental Health podcast