Using Technology to Using Technology to Address Self-InjuryAddress Self-Injury

Maureen RoseMaureen RoseCounseling 511: Technology for School Counseling 511: Technology for School

GuidanceGuidanceSpring 2008Spring 2008

http://maureenannrose.angelfire.com/http://maureenannrose.angelfire.com/mrose@holyfamily.edumrose@holyfamily.edu

IntroductionIntroductionAs professionals working with children, we see a As professionals working with children, we see a

multitude of issues that affect our students’ lives on a daily multitude of issues that affect our students’ lives on a daily basis. Our students face challenges everyday and try to cope basis. Our students face challenges everyday and try to cope as best as they can with the resources offered to them. as best as they can with the resources offered to them. Unfortunately, there are some students who choose coping Unfortunately, there are some students who choose coping mechanisms that are mechanisms that are unhealthy and and dangerous – one such – one such mechanism is mechanism is self-injury..

Self-injury, sometimes referred to as , sometimes referred to as self-mutilation or or self-harm, is an issue that has many , is an issue that has many myths associated associated with it. Some feel as though it is a failed attempt at suicide or with it. Some feel as though it is a failed attempt at suicide or a way of gaining attention or notoriety. These are the a way of gaining attention or notoriety. These are the exceptions, not the rule. Teens in our country are participating exceptions, not the rule. Teens in our country are participating in this behavior and it is a topic with which we as professionals in this behavior and it is a topic with which we as professionals working with children working with children must become aware. become aware.

This presentation will explain This presentation will explain what self-injury is, self-injury is, who partakes in this behavior and partakes in this behavior and why people choose to self- people choose to self-injure. You will also learn what we as professionals can do to injure. You will also learn what we as professionals can do to respond respond appropriately to a student who has experience with to a student who has experience with self-injury and how to recognize the self-injury and how to recognize the warning signs of a self- of a self-injurer. injurer.

This presentation will This presentation will answer the following answer the following

questions:questions: What is self-injury?What is self-injury? 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? What are the warning signs of a person who What are the warning signs of a person who

self-injures?self-injures? How can I appropriately confront a person who How can I appropriately confront a person who

self-injures?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 is Self-Injury?What is Self-Injury?

Mental Health America Mental Health America defines self-injury defines self-injury as, “the deliberate, repetitive, impulsive, as, “the deliberate, repetitive, impulsive, non-lethal harming of one’s self.”non-lethal harming of one’s self.”

Includes:Includes: CuttingCutting ScratchingScratching BurningBurning Punching or hitting oneselfPunching or hitting oneself Breaking one’s own bonesBreaking one’s own bones Infecting oneselfInfecting oneself

Who partakes in this Who partakes in this behavior? behavior?

About 2,000,000 people in the About 2,000,000 people in the United StatesUnited States

Majority are teens or young Majority are teens or young adultsadults

Women outnumber menWomen outnumber men People of all backgroundsPeople of all backgrounds

Why would a person choose to Why would a person choose to

self-injure? self-injure? A coping strategyA coping strategy To express emotional painTo express emotional pain To communicate feelings that one is To communicate feelings that one is

unable to put into wordsunable to put into words A way of having power over A way of having power over

something of which no one else does something of which no one else does

What are the warning signs of What are the warning signs of a person who self-injures?a person who self-injures?

According to According to Self-Injury HelpSelf-Injury Help:: Wearing jackets, long-sleeved shirts or any Wearing jackets, long-sleeved shirts or any

type of heavy clothing in warm weather (to type of heavy clothing in warm weather (to hide cuts on body)hide cuts on body)

Wearing wristbands (to hide cuts on wrists)Wearing wristbands (to hide cuts on wrists) Openly injuring oneself in subtle waysOpenly injuring oneself in subtle ways Low self esteemLow self esteem Possessing razors, razor blades, sharp objects, Possessing razors, razor blades, sharp objects,

lighters etc., that seem to be out of place or lighters etc., that seem to be out of place or not normally used by the person in questionnot normally used by the person in question

What are the warning signs of What are the warning signs of a person who self-injures?a person who self-injures?

Blood on clothing, or in the room of the person Blood on clothing, or in the room of the person in question in question

Difficulty expressing feelingsDifficulty expressing feelings Poor performance at school or workPoor performance at school or work DepressionDepression Negative self-talk:Negative self-talk:

I hate lifeI hate life Life is meaninglessLife is meaningless No one likes meNo one likes me I feel emptyI feel empty

How can I appropriately How can I appropriately confront a person who self-confront a person who self-

injures?injures? Secret Shame Secret Shame says: says:

Ultimatums do NOT work. Ultimatums do NOT work. EverEver

Acknowledge the pain of Acknowledge the pain of your loved oneyour loved one

Don’t force thingsDon’t force things

What help is there for a person What help is there for a person who self-injures?who self-injures?

The The Mayo Clinic Mayo Clinic describes three treatment describes three treatment options available:options available: PsychotherapyPsychotherapy

To help identify underlying issues that trigger To help identify underlying issues that trigger self-injury self-injury

MedicationsMedications To treat the symptoms associated with self-To treat the symptoms associated with self-

injury, like depressioninjury, like depression Psychiatric HospitalizationPsychiatric Hospitalization

Provides a safe environment and more intensive Provides a safe environment and more intensive treatment to help during a crisistreatment to help during a crisis

What help is there for a person What help is there for a person who self-injures?who self-injures?

Websites that assist a person who self-Websites that assist a person who self-injures:injures: National Self Harm Network (NSHN)National Self Harm Network (NSHN)

Offers forums for survivors of self-injury, friends and Offers forums for survivors of self-injury, friends and family members of those that self-injurefamily members of those that self-injure

Children’s Hospital of Boston’s Center for YounChildren’s Hospital of Boston’s Center for Young Women's Healthg Women's Health

Information on this site is written TO teens, rather Information on this site is written TO teens, rather than ABOUT teensthan ABOUT teens

Can’t Shout, Can’t ScreamCan’t Shout, Can’t Scream Online magazine written by a survivor of self-injuryOnline magazine written by a survivor of self-injury

What help is there for a person What help is there for a person who self-injures?who self-injures?

Sample page from

“Can’t Shout, Can’t Scream”

What should our school do What should our school do about self-injury?about self-injury?

Maintain an open and collaborative Maintain an open and collaborative relationship with the studentsrelationship with the students

Host a staff in-service to teach the realities Host a staff in-service to teach the realities of self-injuryof self-injury

Offer a workshop for parents on how to Offer a workshop for parents on how to deal with self-injurious behaviorsdeal with self-injurious behaviors

Present in-class presentations for students Present in-class presentations for students about self-injuryabout self-injury

Provide resources on school’s websiteProvide resources on school’s website

Additional ResourcesAdditional Resources

For more information regarding self-For more information regarding self-injury, please use the following injury, please use the following resources:resources: Internet Address Book: Self-Injury Internet Address Book: Self-Injury

WebsitesWebsites Research Excerpts File: Self-InjuryResearch Excerpts File: Self-Injury Maureen Rose’s WebsiteMaureen Rose’s Website

I hope that you found the information I hope that you found the information from this presentation to be from this presentation to be

informative and eye-opening. If you informative and eye-opening. If you would like more information about self-would like more information about self-

injury, please feel free to visit my injury, please feel free to visit my website, where I have listed a website, where I have listed a

multitude of websites and multitude of websites and organizations that specialize in this organizations that specialize in this

area.area.

Thank youThank you..