Self-harm is increasingly prevalent in our society. But few of us understand why, or know what to do to help ourselves, friends or family in such situations. It can be very isolating. Understanding and Responding to Self-Harm aims to fill this gap, providing practical information and advice for anyone who has an experience of self-harm. Showing the various forms self-harm can take, this book explores the reasons behind it, and offers advice on self-management, support to others, and what services are available. Full of clear, thoughtful advice for those who may be thinking of harming themselves, or have already done so, as well as guidance for families and friends on helpful strategies and responses - and ones to avoid - it uses evidence from research and direct experience to provide an essential resource.

‘A much needed resource empowering readers with powerful insights, a road map of practical strategies and above all else hope.’ Karen Young – child & adolescent anxiety specialist Helping teens and tweens cope when times are tough. Wisdom infused, hope-filled and research driven. If you have a child who is struggling with self-harm, I want to remind you that you are your child’s greatest advantage. What you do and how you respond matters. This book was written for you and your family. Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a global mental health concern with studies conservatively indicating 10% of young people experiment with self-harm. The ways in which young people self-harm are wide and varied, and a challenge many families now have to face. It remains distressing and difficult for parents and caring adults to understand, as it seems to go against every innate instinct of self-protection and survival. In this book, award-winning speaker, author and educator Michelle Mitchell has combined her 20 years’ experience, with the latest research, interviews with experts and stories from professionals and everyday families, to give parents and teachers fresh insights into how-to prevent, understand and respond to self-harm. Full of evidence-based strategies, this unique resource will provide parents with the facts, practical help and comfort they need. Michelle answers questions like – • Why does my child want to hurt themselves? • Is self-harm about attention seeking? • What do I say if I suspect self-harm? • Why is self-harm so addictive? • How do I manage their safety? • How do I best take care of siblings and other family members? • When is it necessary to seek support? Michelle goes where few have gone before, in tackling the distressing, confusing and fraught issue of self-harm in our young people … Michelle has done us all a great service in bringing us this invaluable title. Melinda Tankard Reist (Author, Speaker, co-founder Collective Shout) Michelle … gives a strong and poignant voice, not only to those who are self-harming, but also to the ones who love them. This book traverses that gap. It is an intelligent, thoughtful, and much-needed resource, empowering all who read it with powerful insights, a road map of practical strategies, and above all else, hope. Karen Young (Author, Speaker, Parenting and Child & Adolescent Anxiety Specialist)

A sociological analysis of self-injury, the causes of it, and the conditions surrounding those who commit it. Why does an estimated 5% of the general population intentionally and repeatedly hurt themselves? What are the reasons certain people resort to self-injury as a way to manage their daily lives? In Why Do We Hurt Ourselves, sociologist Baptiste Brossard draws on a five-year survey of self-injurers and suggests that the answers can be traced to social, more than personal, causes. Self-injury is not a matter of disturbed individuals resorting to hurting themselves in the face of individual weaknesses and difficulties. Rather, self-injury is the reaction of individuals to the tensions that compose, day after day, the tumultuousness of their social life and position. Self-harm is a practice that people use to self-control and maintain order—to calm down, or to avoid “going haywire” or “breaking everything.” More broadly, through this research Brossard works to develop a perspective on the contemporary social world at large, exploring quests for self-control in modern Western societies.

Self-injury can be as addictive as any drug, and the secrecy and shame many sufferers feel about this behavior can keep them feeling trapped. But if you're ready to replace self-harm with a set of healthy coping skills, this compassionate and practical book can help. This complete guide to stopping self-injury gives you the facts about self-harm, corrects common myths about this behavior, and provides self-soothing techniques you can begin using right away for regulating difficult or overwhelming emotions. Freedom from Self-Harm also includes self-assessment worksheets, guidance for seeking professional help, and information about the most effective therapies and medications. Drawn from treatments such as dialectical behavior therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy, the tools in this book can help you cope with your emotions whenever you feel the urge to self-harm. This book has been awarded The Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies Self-Help Seal of Merit — an award bestowed on outstanding self-help books that are consistent with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) principles and that incorporate scientifically tested strategies for overcoming mental health difficulties. Used alone or in conjunction with therapy, our books offer powerful tools readers can use to jump-start changes in their lives.

Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a baffling, troubling, and hard to treat phenomenon that has increased markedly in recent years. Key issues in diagnosing and treating NSSI adequately include differentiating it from attempted suicide and other mental disorders, as well as understanding the motivations for self-injury and the context in which it occurs. This accessible and practical book provides therapists and students with a clear understanding of these key issues, as well as of suitable assessment techniques. It then goes on to delineate research-informed treatment approaches for NSSI, with an emphasis on functional assessment, emotion regulation, and problem solving, including motivational interviewing, interpersonal skills, CBT, DBT, behavioral management strategies, delay behaviors, exercise, family therapy, risk management, and medication, as well as how to successfully combine methods.

This book is designed for anyone who has a supporting role or relationship with someone who hurts themself.

Meet Asher - a teenager who self-harms to manage their feelings when it all feels like too much. The latest in the best-selling Can I Tell You About... series describes what self-harm is, along with the wide range of behaviours that qualify, why teens do it, and how to get help if you feel the need to self-harm. Reflecting on the different aspects of self-harming behaviour, including treatment of injuries and scars, this concise introduction dispels common myths and offers helpful resources to break the cycle of self-harm. By initiating the conversation around self-harm, this guide will offer alternative avenues for children and young adults to pursue when dealing with big feelings, such as professional counselling, distraction, and friends and family. This easy-to-read guide is suitable for readers 7+, along with their parents, teachers, and friends. All author royalties from the book will go towards the Charlie Waller Memorial Trust.