Understanding non-suicidal self-injury
Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) — harming oneself without suicidal intent — is far more common than most people realize. Estimates suggest 17-35% of adolescents and 13-23% of college students have engaged in NSSI at least once. Cutting is most common but NSSI includes burning, hitting, scratching, and other forms of self-injury.
Why people self-harm
Self-harm is almost never about seeking attention. It typically serves specific emotional functions: releasing unbearable emotional pain, feeling something when numb, punishing oneself, expressing distress that feels impossible to communicate, or regaining a sense of control. Understanding the function that self-harm serves is central to finding effective alternatives.
DBT: the evidence-based treatment
Dialectical Behavior Therapy is the most extensively researched treatment for NSSI and has the strongest evidence base. DBT specifically addresses the emotional dysregulation that drives self-harm and teaches alternative skills for the same functions — distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness.
If you are in crisis or have injured yourself seriously, please call 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline) or go to the nearest emergency room. For ongoing support, the Crisis Text Line (text HOME to 741741) is available 24/7.