Non-Suicidal Self-Injury among Female Adolescents Essay

Warning signs for self-mutilation can be wearing covering clothing when it is warm out, and not letting people touch where they might be cutting themselves. It was once believed that people who self injure were just doing it for attention but recent studies have proven otherwise. A quote from the research from the CASE study in Europe stated that “The findings of this study show that adolescents who deliberately self-harm often report both cry of pain and cry for help motives. The majority of youngsters wanted to get relief from a terrible state of mind and/ or wanted to die with their act of self-harm. Although the study shows that there is also a cry for help, this type of motive seems to be less prominent than the cry of pain, which is inconsistent with the popular notion that adolescents deliberate self-harm is ‘only’ a cry for help (Scoliers, 2009). With this knowledge we need to make sure we help the children who are not only doing it to

“Why Teenagers Cut, and How to Help,” by Jessica Lahey was quite an interesting article to read. This article talked about many things associated with teenagers cutting themselves and how parents, teachers and other adults could help prevent teens from causing self-injuries such as cuts to the body. It first started with the author talking about a girl named Sarah that she met. Sarah was a 15-year-old teenager who was at the age of twelve causing self-injuries by cutting herself which she felt made her feel better do to one of her parents abusing her. The author used Sarah’s story to understand what causes teens to make self-injuries by asking “Dr. Michael Hollander who is the director of Training and Consultations of 3East Dialectical Behavioral Therapy program. This program is at the McLean Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts. As a matter of fact, he also is the author of “Helping Teens Who Cut: Understanding and Ending Self-Injury” ().

Self harm is an mental health issue that not a lot of people know about. Self harm is “...the act of deliberately harming your own body, such as cutting or burning yourself” (www.mayoclinic.org). It is an issue that people do not like to talk about and especially in schools. Statistics showed that in 2014, 110% of teen girls per 100,000 self-harmed; and it has increased from 23% to 35% that teen boys self-harm (Michelle). Overall, about 15% of Canadian teenagers self harm (Kids Help Phone). Although many teenagers self harm, people do not think about if adults self harm. Statistics showed that in 2006, 54% of adults between the ages of 30 and 64 self harmed (Public Agency Of Canada). Those who self harm may be suicidal, but they do not

&Donovick (2005) discuss how approximately 30% of all offenders have engaged in some form of self-harm behaviour during the course of their incarceration. While some articles discuss how they are in fact one and the same and have the influence to impact each other, other articles depict self-harm and suicide to be mutually exclusive. This is evident when the Canadian Center on Substance Abuse (2006) states, “Research suggests that self-harm and suicide attempts have different intents, etiologies, bodily harms, frequency and methods. Suicidal acts are oriented toward ending pain and suffering through the end of life, while self-harm is viewed as a method of coping” (p. 2, 2006). They additionally share that some studies show an increase in suicide rates in those who have been subject to self-harming behaviours (2006). For this reason, knowing the triggering factors that could potentially lead to suicide is imperative.

They also talks about the relationship between teen suicide and non-suicidal self-injury. According to the authors, suicide is a major public health concern in children and adolescents. “Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death among 10-24 year olds in the United States, and there is a six-fold rise in prevalence of suicide from childhood to late adolescence.” says Drs. Kim and Dickstein. Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSSI) is when someone purposely destroys their body with no intentions to die. For example, there can be cutting, burning, hitting, or biting oneself. Based on Dr. Kim and Dr. Dickstein research, this study was initially for adults, but now it’s a growing problem among teens. This source is reliable, because all three authors are well respected doctors and researchers. Currently, Dr. Kerri Kim is a clinical assistant professor of psychiatry and Human Behavior. She was awarded her PhD from the University of Kansas. On the other hand, Dr. Daniel Dickstein is an associate professor of psychiatry and Human Behavior, Pediatrics, and Diagnostic Imaging. He has a PhD from Brown University. Last but not least, Dr. Sara J. Becker is a clinical researcher and licensed clinical psychologist. She has the position as an assistant professor in the Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences at the Brown University’s Medical Center. She also have her PhD from Duke

As the time goes by more and more psycologist and sociologists are concerned about the inclination of children and teenagers to harm themeselves. Self-harm which is the intentional self-poisoning or self-injury, with or without suicidal intent) in children and adolescents has been identified as a major problem in several countries. Much recent information on self-harm in young people has been based on surveys, usually in schools [3,4]. This has highlighted the extent of the problem at the community level. Most individuals who gain access to clinical care, however, have presented to hospital following-harm. However, only a minority of individuals who self-harm in the community present to hospital or any health facility .

Self mutilation is defined by experts as the act of intentionally harming one's body for emotional relief. There’s different ways people self harm, for example, cutting their skin, biting themselves, head banging, burning of the skin, punching and hitting themselves, scratching or pinching and even hair pulling. Along with the ways, in 1989 there was a survey only involving 240 females self harming in the US.

One factor that might increase an adolescent’s risk of engaging in NSSI is to numb “emotional pain or emotionally painful event because they are feeling overwhelmed. Sometimes adolescents will do self-mutilating to bring themselves back to reality or alternatively to numb themselves.” (Laureate) in which case the may cut themselves using razor blades, erasers or even burning themselves by branding.

Self mutilation, banging, self harm, cutting, burning, self injury—these are words used to describe the action of nonsuicidal self injury (NSSI). NSSI is currently in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-The Fifth Edition (DSM-V) under the categories of borderline personality disorder (BPD) and topics for further study. In BPD, NSSI is considered a symptom of the disorder itself. In the category of topics for further study, a set of diagnostic criteria is given, as if was classified as a mental disorder; however, the criteria is not intended for clinical use and may only be used to conduct research on the topic. Topics under this category are usually on their way to becoming a classified mental disorder but do not have quite enough clinical research and information yet to actually become a diagnosis. NSSI should become a complete diagnosis because diagnoses lead to comprehensive treatment and understanding of the illness, better insurance coverage for those with the illness, and social enlightenment about the illness.

In The Cutting Edge: Non Suicidal Self Injury in Adolescence written by Janis Whitlock, shows a great point of view on this disease. Janis Whitlock PHD is the director of the Cornell Research Program on Self-Injurious Behavior in Adolescents and Young Adults, and a research scientist in the Family Life Development Center at Cornell University (Whitlock 2006). Whitlock explains the definition NSSI was developed by the National International Society of Self Injury. NSSI has various forms that can describe this addiction. Practices such as cutting, ripping, carving words or symbols into the wrists, arms, legs, torso, or other areas of the body are just a few ways to self- harm. There is also banging of the head or punching objects on oneself to the point of bruising or bleeding. Whitlock continues to state some bite to the point of bleeding, pulling out their own hair, eyelashes, or eyebrows with the overt intention of hurting oneself. Methods such as tattooing and piercings, are not viewed as part of NSSI. In addition, self -harm includes intentionally preventing wounds from healing or burning the

Deliberate and repeated self-injuries are so common among adolescents that researchers have come to treat this phenomenon as a disorder—one that originates during adolescence. The DSM-V classification lists it as an independent nosological entity which takes on the form of deliberate self-mutilating without suicidal intentions (Nonsuicidal Self-Injury, NNSI). To better characterize their specific nature, six criteria have been distinguished. Criterion A refers to a specific frequency of self-destructive behaviors—for the disorder to be diagnosed, an individual must have engaged in deliberate self-injury (without suicidal intentions) on at least five days over the past year. Criterion B catalogs several effects of self-injury, at least one of

Self-harm is considered a major public health issue at present (Mental Health Foundation, 2006. Cleaver, 2007). The National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) describes self-harm as ‘self-poisoning or self-injury, irrespective of the apparent purpose of the act’ (2004:16). The incidence of self-harm in young people appears to be increasing and there is a strong link between self-harm and increased risk of completed suicide (Cleaver, 2007). McDougall and Brophy (2006) produced a summary of the Mental Health Foundation publication, Truth Hurts, examining the implications for nurses and mental health professionals. They report that the incidence of self harm has risen by 30% since the 1980’s and that children are self-harming at

Self harm is becoming a bigger and bigger issue for teens and adolescents each day. Studies show that 2 to 3 million American teens in some way or form endeavor to hurt themselves each year. There are many reasons why most teens decide to harm themselves, but there was one reason that stuck out. In an article titled “Teens Who Self-harm” Written by Marie Hartwell-Walker, it stated that some teens who harm themselves are generally not looking for a way to end their lives, but they are looking for a way to end emotional pain.

Deliberate self-harm is a term that covers a wide range of behaviours some of which are directly related to suicide and some are not. This is a relatively common behaviour that is little understood. This essay provides an overview of the nature and extent of those most at risk of self-harm, including causes and risk factors. Examining some of the stereotyping that surrounds self -harm, and looking at ways in which self-harm can be prevented.

There are many gaps in the literature. Firstly, many studies that have been done globally that focus on suicide rates/prevention but not many have been done and peer reviewed about self-harm.