Using Technology to Address Self-Injury Maureen Rose Counseling 511: Technology for School Guidance Spring

Introduction As professionals working with children, we see a multitude of issues that affect our students’ lives on a daily basis. Our students face challenges everyday and try to cope as best as they can with the resources offered to them. Unfortunately, there are some students who choose coping mechanisms that are and – one such mechanism is. As professionals working with children, we see a multitude of issues that affect our students’ lives on a daily basis. Our students face challenges everyday and try to cope as best as they can with the resources offered to them. Unfortunately, there are some students who choose coping mechanisms that are unhealthy and dangerous – one such mechanism is self-injury., sometimes referred to as or, is an issue that has many associated with it. Some feel as though it is a failed attempt at suicide or a way of gaining attention or notoriety. These are the exceptions, not the rule. Teens in our country are participating in this behavior and it is a topic with which we as professionals working with children become aware. Self-injury, sometimes referred to as self-mutilation or self- harm, is an issue that has many myths associated with it. Some feel as though it is a failed attempt at suicide or a way of gaining attention or notoriety. These are the exceptions, not the rule. Teens in our country are participating in this behavior and it is a topic with which we as professionals working with children must become aware. This presentation will explain self-injury is, partakes in this behavior and people choose to self-injure. You will also learn what we as professionals can do to respond to a student who has experience with self-injury and how to recognize the of a self-injurer. This presentation will explain what self-injury is, who partakes in this behavior and why people choose to self-injure. You will also learn what we as professionals can do to respond appropriately to a student who has experience with self-injury and how to recognize the warning signs of a self-injurer.

This presentation will answer the following questions: What is self-injury? What is self-injury? What is self-injury? What is self-injury? Who partakes in this behavior? Who partakes in this behavior? Who partakes in this behavior? Who partakes in this behavior? Why would a person choose to self-injure? Why would a person choose to self-injure? Why would a person choose to self-injure? Why would a person choose to self-injure? What are the warning signs of a person who self-injures? What are the warning signs of a person who self-injures? What are the warning signs of a person who self-injures? What are the warning signs of a person who self-injures? How can I appropriately confront a person who self-injures? How can I appropriately confront a person who self-injures? How can I appropriately confront a person who self-injures? How can I appropriately confront a person who self-injures? What help is there for a person who self-injures? What help is there for a person who self-injures? What help is there for a person who self-injures? What help is there for a person who self-injures? What should our school do about self-injury? What should our school do about self-injury? What should our school do about self-injury? What should our school do about self-injury?

What is Self-Injury? Mental Health America defines self-injury as, “the deliberate, repetitive, impulsive, non-lethal harming of one’s self.” Mental Health America defines self-injury as, “the deliberate, repetitive, impulsive, non-lethal harming of one’s self.” Mental Health America Mental Health America Includes: Includes: Cutting Cutting Scratching Scratching Burning Burning Punching or hitting oneself Punching or hitting oneself Breaking one’s own bones Breaking one’s own bones Infecting oneself Infecting oneself

Who partakes in this behavior? About 2,000,000 people in the United States About 2,000,000 people in the United States Majority are teens or young adults Majority are teens or young adults Women outnumber men Women outnumber men People of all backgrounds People of all backgrounds

Why would a person choose to self-injure? A coping strategy A coping strategy To express emotional pain To express emotional pain To communicate feelings that one is unable to put into words To communicate feelings that one is unable to put into words A way of having power over something of which no one else does A way of having power over something of which no one else does

What are the warning signs of a person who self-injures? According to Self-Injury Help: According to Self-Injury Help:Self-Injury HelpSelf-Injury Help Wearing jackets, long-sleeved shirts or any type of heavy clothing in warm weather (to hide cuts on body) Wearing jackets, long-sleeved shirts or any type of heavy clothing in warm weather (to hide cuts on body) Wearing wristbands (to hide cuts on wrists) Wearing wristbands (to hide cuts on wrists) Openly injuring oneself in subtle ways Openly injuring oneself in subtle ways Low self esteem Low self esteem Possessing razors, razor blades, sharp objects, lighters etc., that seem to be out of place or not normally used by the person in question Possessing razors, razor blades, sharp objects, lighters etc., that seem to be out of place or not normally used by the person in question

What are the warning signs of a person who self-injures? Blood on clothing, or in the room of the person in question Blood on clothing, or in the room of the person in question Difficulty expressing feelings Difficulty expressing feelings Poor performance at school or work Poor performance at school or work Depression Depression Negative self-talk: Negative self-talk: I hate life I hate life Life is meaningless Life is meaningless No one likes me No one likes me I feel empty I feel empty

How can I appropriately confront a person who self-injures? Secret Shame says: Secret Shame says: Secret Shame Secret Shame Ultimatums do NOT work. Ever Ultimatums do NOT work. Ever Acknowledge the pain of your loved one Acknowledge the pain of your loved one Don’t force things Don’t force things

What help is there for a person who self-injures? The Mayo Clinic describes three treatment options available: The Mayo Clinic describes three treatment options available:Mayo Clinic Mayo Clinic Psychotherapy Psychotherapy To help identify underlying issues that trigger self-injury To help identify underlying issues that trigger self-injury Medications Medications To treat the symptoms associated with self-injury, like depression To treat the symptoms associated with self-injury, like depression Psychiatric Hospitalization Psychiatric Hospitalization Provides a safe environment and more intensive treatment to help during a crisis Provides a safe environment and more intensive treatment to help during a crisis

What help is there for a person who self-injures? Websites that assist a person who self-injures: Websites that assist a person who self-injures: National Self Harm Network (NSHN) National Self Harm Network (NSHN) National Self Harm Network (NSHN) National Self Harm Network (NSHN) Offers forums for survivors of self-injury, friends and family members of those that self-injure Offers forums for survivors of self-injury, friends and family members of those that self-injure Children’s Hospital of Boston’s Center for Young Women's Health Children’s Hospital of Boston’s Center for Young Women's Health Children’s Hospital of Boston’s Center for Young Women's Health Children’s Hospital of Boston’s Center for Young Women's Health Information on this site is written TO teens, rather than ABOUT teens Information on this site is written TO teens, rather than ABOUT teens Can’t Shout, Can’t Scream Can’t Shout, Can’t Scream Can’t Shout, Can’t Scream Can’t Shout, Can’t Scream Online magazine written by a survivor of self-injury Online magazine written by a survivor of self-injury

What help is there for a person who self-injures? Sample page from “Can’t Shout, Can’t Scream”

What should our school do about self-injury? Maintain an open and collaborative relationship with the students Maintain an open and collaborative relationship with the students Host a staff in-service to teach the realities of self-injury Host a staff in-service to teach the realities of self-injury Offer a workshop for parents on how to deal with self-injurious behaviors Offer a workshop for parents on how to deal with self-injurious behaviors Present in-class presentations for students about self-injury Present in-class presentations for students about self-injury Provide resources on school’s website Provide resources on school’s website

Additional Resources For more information regarding self- injury, please use the following resources: For more information regarding self- injury, please use the following resources: Internet Address Book: Self-Injury Websites Internet Address Book: Self-Injury Websites Internet Address Book: Self-Injury Websites Internet Address Book: Self-Injury Websites Research Excerpts File: Self-Injury Research Excerpts File: Self-Injury Research Excerpts File: Self-Injury Research Excerpts File: Self-Injury Maureen Rose’s Website Maureen Rose’s Website Maureen Rose’s Website Maureen Rose’s Website

I hope that you found the information from this presentation to be informative and eye- opening. If you would like more information about self-injury, please feel free to visit my website, where I have listed a multitude of websites and organizations that specialize in this area. Thank you. website