Understanding, Managing, and Treating the Complex Puzzle of Non-Suicidal Self-Injury in Those With Developmental Disabilities

with Barrent Walsh, Ph.D

One of the most challenging problems for clinicians and other professionals is dealing effectively with non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). This presentation will focus on understanding, managing and treating diverse forms of self-injury including arm and body cutting, self-inflicted burning, head-banging, and excoriation of wounds. Other more serious examples such as NSSI requiring medical attention (e.g. sutures) and foreign body ingestion will also be reviewed.

Self-injury will be distinguished from suicidal behavior in terms of a number of key characteristics, but will also be discussed as a risk factor for suicide attempts. The topic of social contagion of self-injury will also be addressed.

Barent Walsh, Ph.D. has written extensively and presented internationally on the topic of self-destructive behavior. He is the author of Treating Self-Injury: A Practical Guide 2^nd edition, Guilford Press, (2014). This volume has been translated into Polish and Japanese. In addition, Dr. Walsh is co-developer (with Screening for Mental Health of Wellesley, MA) of “Act to Prevent Self-Injury,” a prevention program with DVD for high schools. Dr. Walsh has presented on self-injury in London, Edinburg, Vienna, Stuttgart, Ulm, Oslo, Dubai, Tokyo, Beijing, Montevideo, Mexico City, Montreal, Toronto, Winnipeg, and throughout the United States.