Self-Injury Information, Resources & Support

Detailed information about Self-Injury (Self-Harm, Self-Abuse, Self-Mutilation) including why people self-injure, warning signs of self-harm, treatment for self-injury and information for parents.

Welcome to the Self-Injury Center Homepage

Self-injury (SI) is known by many names, including self-harm, self-mutilation, and self-abuse. There are so many misconceptions about self-injury. Among them, people who self-injure are really trying to commit suicide. In reality, self-injury is the act of physically hurting yourself on purpose without the intent of committing suicide. It is a method of coping during an emotionally difficult time that helps some people temporarily feel better because they have a way to physically express and release the tension and the pain they hold inside. Research also shows that chemical changes in the bodies of people who self-harm make them feel happier and more relaxed.

Self-Harm, Self Injury Table of Contents

• General Information About Self-Injury
• Self-Injury Help for Family and Friends
• Self-Injury Comorbidities
• Self-Injury and Depression
• Self-Injury Conference Transcripts

General Information About Self-Injury

• What is Self-Injury, Self-Harm, Self-Abuse
• Warning Signs of Self-Harm
• Why People Self-Harm
• How Do You Tell Someone You Self-Injure?
• Psychological and Medical Treatment of Self-Injury
• Self-help for Self-Injury
• Self-injurious Behavior, Self-injury Treatment
• Self-injury Not Limited to Teens
• Videos on Self Injury

Self-Injury Help for Family and Friends

• What Can Parents and Teenagers Do About Self-injury?
• How to Help the Person Who Self-Injures: For Family Members and Significant Others
• In-depth Information on Suicide and How to Support a Suicidal Person
• Books for People with Self-Injury Problems, Friends and Family

Self Injury Comorbidities

• Self Injury Within Other Mental Health Conditions
• Self-Injury and Associated Mental Health Conditions
• Suicidal Self-Injurious Behavior in People With BPD
• Cutting Behavior, Suicidality Relation to Childhood Trauma
• Depression: Suicide and Self Injury
• Depression is Common in People Who Self-Injure: Therapist's Comments
• Self Mutilation: Self-Injurers Often Suffered Sexual or Emotional Abuse

Self-Injury and Depression

• The Relationship Between Self-Injury and Depression
• Introduction to Self-Mutilation
• Study of Patients Who Exhibited Cutting Behavior and Suicidality
• Depression: Suicide and Self Injury
• Who self-injures? Psychological Characteristics Common in Self-Injurers
• Depression is Common in People Who Self-Injure: Therapist's Comments
• Cutting: Self Mutilating to Release Emotional Stress

Self-Injury Conference Transcripts

• Getting Help for Self-Harm, Guest: Dr. Sharon Farber
• Recovering From Self-Injury, Guest: Emily J
• Self Injury Experience, Guest: Janay
• Treating Self-Injury, Guest: Michelle Seliner
• What It Takes For You To Stop Self-Injuring and DBT For Treating Self-Injury, Guest: Sarah Reynolds, Ph.D.
• What You Can Do to Stop Self Injury, Guest: Dr. Wendy Lader