• Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a behavior in which an individual inflicts physical harm on oneself to relieve emotional distress.
• NSSI can take many forms: cutting, picking, burning, bruising, puncturing, embedding, scratching/hitting oneself, etc.
• Approximately 4% of the U.S. population uses NSSI as a way of coping.
• NSSI is most common among adolescents and young adults, with an age of onset between 12-14 years old.
• Individuals who self-injure are often secretive about their behaviors and may hide their wounds.

Source:  psychologytoday.com

Tips for supporting a patient who engages in NSSI:

• Demonstrate listening and empathy
• Remain non-judgmental
• Avoid using stigmatizing language such as referring to self-harming behavior as “attention-seeking" 
• Provide resources and educational materials related to self-harm
• Help the patient to identify alternative, healthier coping strategies and encourage their use when experiencing urges to self-harm
• Suggest developing a safety plan: what they might do to keep themselves safe, identifying triggers, and who they can reach out to, etc., instead of self-harming.
• Continually monitor and assess the severity of a patient’s self-harm and their risk for suicide

Source: mentalhealthfirstaid.org 

Resources:

For additional information, please contact Isabella Faggiano at Isabella.faggiano@bcbsri.org.