Self-Injurious Behaviors in Adolescents: Causes, Risks, Consequences and Interventions
This workshop is designed to impart a basic understanding of the pathology of teenagers who injure themselves intentionally; cutting, cigarette burning, and other forms of deliberate self-injury. We will examine risk factors including the kind of psychosocial histories that leave kids at risk for such behaviors as well as discussing how those behaviors are triggered in various environments such as school, home, family and social milieus.
Cutting and many self-injurious behaviors provide relief and benefits to the kids who engage in them. Our discussion will include information to help adults and professionals to understand these behaviors, learn how to respond to them safely, as well as how to manage our own fears that are triggered by kids who engage in deliberate self-harm. We’ll discuss the subtle differences between suicidal attempts, suicidal gestures, parasuicidal behaviors and non-suicidal self-harm and Repetitive Self-Mutilation Syndrome.
This program is ideal for educators, law enforcement personnel, agencies, and any professional or paraprofessional staff who may encounter such a child, as well as for parents.
