Adolescent Self-Injury : A Comprehensive Guide for Counselors and Health Care Professionals

Claudine Fox; Keith Hawton; Royal College Of Psychiatrists. Research Unit

Self-harm in adolescence and late teens is known to be increasing, though it is difficult to detect and inconsistently recorded. This thorough, practical and evidence-based book provides guidance for professionals and parents caring for children and young people at risk of self-harm and suicide. Claudine Fox and Keith Hawton discuss risk factors for self-harm, including depression, substance abuse and antisocial behaviour, and critically examine key screening instruments that can be used to assess risk. They describe how suicidal behaviour can be managed and prevented, and look at the effectiveness of aftercare treatment for those who self-harm, including school-based suicide-prevention programs and family therapy. Also addressed are common myths about self-harm and the problem of varying definitions in this field. Deliberate Self-Harm in Adolescence clearly summarizes and evaluates current research into suicidal behaviour - it is essential reading for social workers, mental health professionals, GPs, teachers and parents. Leer más…

David N. Miller, Stephen E. Brock (Auth.)

Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) among young peopleùmost notably in the form of forearm- or wrist-cutting--occurs across cultural groups, social strata, and developmental stages, puzzling and repelling adults. Youth engaging in NSSI behaviors are at a higher risk for suicidality as well as other mental health and academic problems. And because NSSI is often first noticed in the school setting (as is the case with many children's disorders), school professionals are being encouraged to take a more proactive role in intervention.The first book specifically geared toward education personnel, Identifying, Assessing, and Treating Self-Injury at School clearly defines NSSI, differentiating it from suicidal, borderline, and other behaviors and analyzing the psychological contexts in which it occurs. This school-based perspective gives readers a practical framework for earlier, more accurate diagnosis; relevant consulting with parents, teachers, and colleagues; and effective, science-based treatment. Included in the coverage. An overview of causes of self-injury. Current findings on prevalence and associated conditions. Early screening guidelines, including risk factors and warning signs. The latest information on assessment issues and diagnostic methods. A separate chapter on psychoeducational assessment. Up-to-date research on interventions for NSSI. Identifying, Assessing, and Treating Self-Injury at School offers a solid foundation for school psychologists and allied... Leer más…

Heather Barnett Veague

A person who engages in self-harm causes damage to his or her body. Such behavior is often a symptom of mental illness. Some types of self-injury are impulsive, while other types may be symptomatic of a neurological or psychotic disorder. Often, people who hurt themselves impulsively are using self-harm as a way to cope with painful and intense emotions. People who practice deliberate self-harm put themselves at risk of serious illness, injury, or death. Cutting and Self-Harm explores the nature of self-injury, its history, its diagnosis, its treatment, and possible causes. The Psychological Disorders series explores the symptoms, causes, and effects of the most common psychological disorders. Highlighting the brain chemistry and psychological processes behind the disorders, these books explain how various pharmacological and psychotherapy treatments can help ease or eliminate symptoms. Case studies illustrate how mental health problems impact everyday life so that readers can better understand the signs of psychological disorders and recognize the need for professional help. Leer más…

Keith Hawton, Keith Hawton, Karen Rodham, Emma Evans

Self-harm in adolescents is an increasingly recognized problem, and there is growing awareness of the important role schools and health services can play in detecting and supporting those at risk. "By Their Own Young Hand" explores the findings of the first large-scale survey of deliberate self-harm and suicidal thinking in adolescents in the UK, and draws out the implications for prevention strategies and mental health promotion. Six thousand young people were asked about their experiences of self-harm, the coping methods they use, and their attitudes to the help and support available. The authors identify the risk and protective factors for self-harm, exploring why some adolescents with suicidal thoughts go on to harm themselves while others do not, what motivates some young people to seek help, and whether distressed teenagers feel they receive the support they need. "By Their Own Young Hand" offers practical advice on how schools can detect young people at risk, cope with the aftermath of self-harm or attempted suicide, and develop training programmes for teachers. It also examines the roles of self-help, telephone helplines, email counselling, and walk-in crisis centres. Packed with adolescents' own personal accounts and perspectives, this accessible overview will be essential reading for teachers, social workers and mental health professionals. Leer más…

Daphne Simeon, Eric Hollander

Throughout history, people have invented many different ways to inflict direct and deliberate physical injury on themselvesAwithout an intent to die. Even today, the concept and practice of self-injury is sanctioned by some cultures, although condemned by most. This insightful work fills a gap in the literature on pathologic self-injury. The phenomenon of people physically hurting themselves is heterogeneous in nature, disturbing in its impact on the self and others, frightening in its blatant maladaptiveness, and often indicative of serious developmental disturbances, breaks with reality, or deficits in the regulation of affects, aggressive impulses, or self states. Further complicating our understanding is the large and diverse scope of psychiatric conditions, such as pervasive developmental disorders, TouretteAs syndrome, and psychosis, in which these behaviors occur. This volume presents a comprehensive nosology of self-injurious behaviors, classifying them as stereotypic, major, compulsive, and impulsive (with greater emphasis on the last two categories because they are the most commonly seen). -The chapter on stereotypic self-injurious behaviors (highly repetitive, monotonous behaviors usually devoid of meaning, such as head-banging) focuses on the neurochemical systems underlying the various forms of stereotypic movement disorders with self-injurious behaviors, typically seen in patients with mental retardation and autism, and discusses their... Leer más…

[Edited By] Mary K. Nixon And Nancy L. Heath

This edited volume features evidence-based reviews and practical approaches for the professional in the hospital, clinic, community and school, with case examples throughout. Divided into five major sections, the book offers background historical and cultural information, discussion of self-injury etiology, assessment and intervention/prevention issues, and relevant resources for those working with youths who self-injure. Leer más…

Dennis Ougrin; Tobias Zundel; Audrey V Ng

Self-harm is a distressing and all too common presentation to emergency departments, and yet there is no clear understanding of what it represents, and success rates of interventions to prevent future episodes are enormously variable. Therapeutic Assessment for self-harm is a pragmatic model, developed by the authors of this book and forming an organic part of the psychosocial assessment following a self-harming incident. Its main features are that firstly, a therapeutic intervention at the time of distress, compared with a standard psychosocial history and risk assessment, improves patients' responses and their willingness to engage in further therapy, and secondly, that there is a vast range of evidence-based interventions that can be used to build a toolkit that individual practitioners can employ with their patients. Therapeutic Assessment is evidence-based, simple, and easy to learn, and this book presents the techniques in a clear, accessible, and user-friendly way. Based on extensive research, it will form an essential reference for psychiatrists and clinical psychologists, and for any health professional involved in the assessment of young people who self-harm. Leer más…

Jan Sutton

Skillfully woven together with empathic insight into the lives and minds of those who self-injure, "Healing the Hurt Within" is replete with the latest developments in the field, informative statistical data, instructive diagrams, carefully selected resources, case studies, expert testimonies, and practical self-help activities. The author's warmth, compassion, and regard for those caught in the cycle of self-injury shines through the pages of this profoundly enlightening and extensively updated 3rd edition. "Healing the Hurt Within" offers solace, hope, and direction to those who self-injure; guidance to family and friends supporting a loved one who self-injures; and, guidelines to professionals and voluntary caregivers on how to respond to clients that self-injure. Contents 1. Exploring self-injury and self-harm; 2. Looking beyond the myths; 3. Further insights into self-injury; 4. Media assertions and attitudes to self-injury, the magnitude of the problem and controversies; 5. Two research studies examined; 6. Childhood trauma, negative core beliefs, perfectionism and self-injury; 7. The cycle of self-injury and the eight Cs of self-injury;8. Dissociation and self-injury; 9. Hurting and healing true stories; 10. Heal thyself; 11. Guide for family, friends an. Leer más…

Lori G. Plante

Parents, Teachers, Friends, And Even Many Clinicians Are Both Horrified And Mystified Upon Discovering Teenagers Who Intentionally Cut, Burn, And Otherwise Inflict Pain Upon Themselves. Often Causing Permanent And Extensive Scarring, As Well As Infections, Cutting Is Increasingly Prevalent Among Today's Youth. As Many As 1 In 100 Adolescents Report Cutting Themselves, Representing A Growing Epidemic Of Scarred And Tormented Youths, As We See In This Revealing Work. As Author Plante Discusses Here, The Threat Of Suicide Must Always Be Carefully Evaluated, Although The Majority Of Cutters Are Not In Fact Suicidal. Instead, Cutting Represents A Growing Teenage Method For Easing Emotional Pain And Suffering. Bleeding From Self-inflicted Wounds Not Only Helps To Numb And Vent The Despair, It Can Also Be A Dramatic Means Of Communicating, Controlling, And Asking For Help From Others.--parents, Teachers, Friends, And Even Many Clinicians Are Both Horrified And Mystified Upon Discovering Teenagers Who Intentionally Cut, Burn, And Otherwise Inflict Pain On Themselves. Often Causing Permanent And Extensive Scarring, As Well As Infections, Cutting Is Increasingly Prevalent Among Today's Youth. As Many As 1 In 100 Adolescents Report Cutting Themselves, Representing A Growing Epidemic Of Scarred And Tormented Youth, As We See In This Revealing Work. Author Plante Explains The Threat Of Suicide Must Always Be Carefully Evaluated, Although The Vast Majority Of Cutters Are Not In Fact... Leer más…

By Michael Hollander

Discovering that your teen “cuts” is absolutely terrifying. Is your teen contemplating suicide? How can you talk to him or her about this frightening problem without making it worse or driving a wedge between you? Dr. Michael Hollander is a leading authority on self-injury and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). In this compassionate, straightforward book, Dr. Hollander spells out the facts about cutting--and what to do to make it stop. Vivid stories illustrate how out-of-control emotions lead some teens to hurt themselves, and how proven treatments such as DBT can help. You'll learn concrete strategies for parenting your emotionally vulnerable teen, building his or her skills for coping and problem solving, dealing with crises, and finding an effective therapist or treatment program. Winner--American Journal of Nursing Book of the Year Award Leer más…

Jane Wegschneider Hyman

They cut their arms and legs with knives and razors;scratch at their skin; burn, bruise, or stick themselves withcigarettes, hammers, pins, and other objects; bang their heads andlimbs; and break their own bones. Although women who live withself-injury have recently gained recognition in the media, they have,as a result, become even more stigmatized. In this book, author Jane Wegscheider Hyman sheds light onthis misunderstood condition. Fifteen women talk about their battlewith self-injury and explain how and why they repeatedly anddeliberately injure themselves. Most admit they do it because itmakes them feel high or safe. They also describe living withceaseless shame, secrecy, and fear of discovery which could makethem unemployable and ostracized. Candidly discussing theirattempted and successful recoveries, they reveal the impact livingwith self-injury has on their day-to-day lives--where they arecompetent workers, partners, friends, and mothers.Hear the voices of these women as they speak to a public thatgenerally sees self-injury as frightening, senseless, and repulsive.Concealing scars or other signs of injury is crucial for them andpartly dictates their daily routines, choice of clothes, and the liesthey tell to excuse any traces of injury. For these productive womenwho work outside of the home and often raise children, hidingself-injury is of paramount importance during their workdays and intheir relationships with partners, families, and friends.Hyman's approach... Leer más…

Stephen Briggs; Alessandra Lemma; William Crouch; International Suicidality And Psychoanalysis Congress

Alessandra Lemma - Winner of the Levy-Goldfarb Award for Child Psychoanalysis!Relating to Self-Harm and Suicide presents original studies and research from contemporary psychoanalysts, therapists and academics focusing on the psychoanalytic understanding of suicide and self-harm, and how this can be applied to clinical work and policy. This powerful critique of current thinking suggests that suicide and self-harm must be understood as having meaning within interpersonal and intrapsychic relationships, offering a new and more hopeful dimension for prevention and recovery. Divided into three sections, the book includes: a theoretical overview examples of psychoanalytic practice with self-harming and suicidal patients applications of psychoanalytic thinking to suicide and self-harm prevention. Relating to Self-Harm and Suicide will be helpful to psychoanalytic therapists, analysts and mental health professionals wanting to integrate psychoanalytic ideas into their work with self-harmers and the suicidal. This text will also be of use to academics and professionals involved in suicidal prevention. Leer más…

Patricia A. Adler And Peter Adler

Cutting, burning, branding, and bone-breaking are all types of self-injury, or the deliberate, non-suicidal destruction of one’s own body tissue, a practice that emerged from obscurity in the 1990s and spread dramatically as a typical behavior among adolescents. Long considered a suicidal gesture, __The Tender Cut__ argues instead that self-injury is often a coping mechanism, a form of teenage angst, an expression of group membership, and a type of rebellion, converting unbearable emotional pain into manageable physical pain. Based on the largest, qualitative, non-clinical population of self-injurers ever gathered, noted ethnographers Patricia and Peter Adler draw on 150 interviews with self-injurers from all over the world, along with 30,000-40,000 internet posts in chat rooms and communiqués. Their 10-year longitudinal research follows the practice of self-injury from its early days when people engaged in it alone and did not know others, to the present, where a subculture has formed via cyberspace that shares similar norms, values, lore, vocabulary, and interests. An important portrait of a troubling behavior, __The Tender Cut__ illuminates the meaning of self-injury in the 21st century, its effects on current and former users, and its future as a practice for self-discovery or a cry for help. Leer más…

Anne Buscha, Szilvia Szita

Buscha, Anna, Szita, S., Deltorn, Jean-Marc Leer más…

Gerald A. Juhnke, Darcy Haag Granello, Paul F. Granello(Auth.)

Machine generated contents note: Chapter 1: Suicide in Children and Adolescents (with contributions by Karen Michelle Hunnicutt Hollenbaugh and Alexis M. Rae) Chapter 2: School-Based Suicide Prevention Programming Chapter 3: Working with Suicidal Students in Schools Assessment and Intervention Chapter 4: Working with Students who Engage in Non-Suicidal Self-Inflicted Injury (NSSI) Chapter 5: After a Suicide: Postvention in the School Environment Chapter 6: Utilizing Face-to-Face Clinical Interviews with Violent and Potentially Violent Students and Their Families Chapter 7: Using a Systems of Care Approach with Post Violent and Potentially Violent Students Chapter 8: Utilizing Psychological First Aid when Responding to School Violence Survivors and Their Parents Chapter 9: Adapted Solution Focused Survivors-Parents Debriefing Model Chapter 10: Ethical and Legal Issues Chapter 11: Wrap Up: Preparedness, Checklist Template, and Promising Future Interventions. Leer más…

By Melissa Higgins; Content Consultant, Sarah Feuerbacher

This title examines how self-injury affects individuals and society, investigates how people are working to put an end to self-injury, and analyzes the controversies and conflicting viewpoints surrounding the issue. Features include a glossary, selected bibliography, websites, source notes, and an index, plus a timeline and essential facts. Aligned to Common Core standards and correlated to state standards. Essential Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO. Leer más…

Barent W. Walsh Phd

This trusted practitioner resource is acclaimed for its clear, compassionate, and hopeful approach to working with clients who self-injure. Barent Walsh provides current, evidence-based knowledge about the variety and causes of self-injurious behavior, its relationship to suicidality, and how to assess and treat it effectively. Illustrated with detailed case examples, chapters review a wide range of cognitive-behavioral interventions. Essential guidance is provided on tailoring the intensity of intervention to each client's unique needs. Walsh is joined by several colleagues who have contributed chapters in their respective areas of expertise. Reproducible assessment tools and handouts can be downloaded and printed in a convenient 8 1/2" x 11" size. New to This Edition *Incorporates up-to-date research and clinical advances. *Now uses a stepped-care framework to match interventions to client needs. *Chapters on the relationship between suicide and self-injury, formal assessment, family therapy, and residential treatment for adolescents. *Special-topic chapters on the "choking game," foreign body ingestion, multiple self-harm behaviors, and self-injury in correctional settings. Leer más…

Sharon Klayman Farber

In this comprehensive and insightful work, Dr. Sharon K. Farber provides an invaluable resource for the mental health professional who is struggling to understand self-harm and its origins. Using attachment theory to explain how addictive connections to pain and suffering develop, she discusses various kinds and functions of self-harm behavior. From eating disorders to body modifications such as tattooing, Dr. Farber explores the language of self-harm, and the translation of that language and its psychic functions in the therapeutic setting. She tells us, 'When the body weeps tears of blood, we need to wonder what terrible sorrows cannot be spoken.' Brilliantly illustrated with rich clinical material, this book offers a practical approach to the diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of the increasing number of patients whose emotions are expressed through bodily harm. The challenges of working with patients who tend to view the world of relationships in terms of predator and prey are clearly explicated and the stormy countertransference responses that threaten to destroy the treatment are given a full hearing. Finally, she shows how the attachment relationship formed in treatment can repair the traumatic attachment in mind, body, psyche, and soul, and can serve as the cornerstone of therapeutic change. A Jason Aronson Book Leer más…

Sarah Chaney

It’s a troubling phenomenon that many of us think of as a modern psychological epidemic, a symptom of extreme emotional turmoil in young people, especially young women: cutting and self-harm. But few of us know that it was 150 years ago—with the introduction of institutional asylum psychiatry—that self-mutilation was first described as a category of behavior, which psychiatrists, and later psychologists and social workers, attempted to understand. With care and focus, __Psyche on the Skin__ tells the secret but necessary history of self-harm from the 1860s to the present, showing just how deeply entrenched this practice is in human culture. Sarah Chaney looks at many different kinds of self-injurious acts, including sexual self-mutilation and hysterical malingering in the late Victorian period, self-marking religious sects, and self-mutilation and self-destruction in art, music, and popular culture. As she shows, while self-harm is a widespread phenomenon found in many different contexts, it doesn’t necessarily have any kind of universal meaning—it always has to be understood within the historical and cultural context that surrounds it. Bravely sharing her own personal experiences with self-harm and placing them within its wider history, Chaney offers a sensitive but engaging account—supported with powerful images—that challenges the misconceptions and controversies that surround this often misunderstood phenomenon. The result is crucial reading for therapists... Leer más…