Non-suicidal self-injury, youth, and the Internet: What mental health professionals need to know

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) content and related e-communication have proliferated on the Internet in recent years. Research indicates that many youth who self-injure go online to connect with others who self-injure and view others’ NSSI experiences and share...

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Main Authors: Lewis Stephen P, Heath Nancy L, Michal Natalie J, Duggan Jamie M
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2012-03-01
Series:Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.capmh.com/content/6/1/13
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author Lewis Stephen P
Heath Nancy L
Michal Natalie J
Duggan Jamie M
author_facet Lewis Stephen P
Heath Nancy L
Michal Natalie J
Duggan Jamie M
author_sort Lewis Stephen P
collection DOAJ
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) content and related e-communication have proliferated on the Internet in recent years. Research indicates that many youth who self-injure go online to connect with others who self-injure and view others’ NSSI experiences and share their own through text and videos platforms. Although there are benefits to this behaviour in terms of receiving peer support, these activities can introduce these young people to risks, such as NSSI reinforcement through the sharing of stories and strategies, as well as, risks for triggering of NSSI urges. Due to the nature of these risks mental health professionals need to know about these risks and how to effectively assess adolescents’ online activity in order to adequately monitor the effects of the purported benefits and risks associated with NSSI content. This article offers research informed clinical guidelines for the assessment, intervention, and monitoring of online NSSI activities. To help bridge the gap between youth culture and mental health culture, these essentials include descriptions of Community, Social Networking, and Video/Photo Sharing websites and the terms associated with these websites. Assessment of these behaviours can be facilitated by a basic Functional Assessment approach that is further informed using specific recommended online questions tailored to NSSI online and an assessment of the frequency, duration, and time of day of the online activities. Intervention in this area should initially assess readiness for change and use motivational interviewing to encourage substitution of healthier online activities for the activities that may currently foster harm.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-7816d115406345ad988e1676e277c4eb2022-12-22T02:48:21ZengBMCChild and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health1753-20002012-03-01611310.1186/1753-2000-6-13Non-suicidal self-injury, youth, and the Internet: What mental health professionals need to knowLewis Stephen PHeath Nancy LMichal Natalie JDuggan Jamie M<p>Abstract</p> <p>Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) content and related e-communication have proliferated on the Internet in recent years. Research indicates that many youth who self-injure go online to connect with others who self-injure and view others’ NSSI experiences and share their own through text and videos platforms. Although there are benefits to this behaviour in terms of receiving peer support, these activities can introduce these young people to risks, such as NSSI reinforcement through the sharing of stories and strategies, as well as, risks for triggering of NSSI urges. Due to the nature of these risks mental health professionals need to know about these risks and how to effectively assess adolescents’ online activity in order to adequately monitor the effects of the purported benefits and risks associated with NSSI content. This article offers research informed clinical guidelines for the assessment, intervention, and monitoring of online NSSI activities. To help bridge the gap between youth culture and mental health culture, these essentials include descriptions of Community, Social Networking, and Video/Photo Sharing websites and the terms associated with these websites. Assessment of these behaviours can be facilitated by a basic Functional Assessment approach that is further informed using specific recommended online questions tailored to NSSI online and an assessment of the frequency, duration, and time of day of the online activities. Intervention in this area should initially assess readiness for change and use motivational interviewing to encourage substitution of healthier online activities for the activities that may currently foster harm.</p>http://www.capmh.com/content/6/1/13Non-suicidal self-injuryYouthInternetOnline activityE-communitiesRisksTriggersMonitoringAssessmentIntervention
spellingShingle Lewis Stephen P
Heath Nancy L
Michal Natalie J
Duggan Jamie M
Non-suicidal self-injury, youth, and the Internet: What mental health professionals need to know
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health
Non-suicidal self-injury
Youth
Internet
Online activity
E-communities
Risks
Triggers
Monitoring
Assessment
Intervention
title Non-suicidal self-injury, youth, and the Internet: What mental health professionals need to know
title_full Non-suicidal self-injury, youth, and the Internet: What mental health professionals need to know
title_fullStr Non-suicidal self-injury, youth, and the Internet: What mental health professionals need to know
title_full_unstemmed Non-suicidal self-injury, youth, and the Internet: What mental health professionals need to know
title_short Non-suicidal self-injury, youth, and the Internet: What mental health professionals need to know
title_sort non suicidal self injury youth and the internet what mental health professionals need to know
topic Non-suicidal self-injury
Youth
Internet
Online activity
E-communities
Risks
Triggers
Monitoring
Assessment
Intervention
url http://www.capmh.com/content/6/1/13
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