SIAD

Self-injury remains a taboo subject; a behaviour that is considered freakish or outlandish and is highly stigmatised by medical professionals and the public alike. Self injury, also called self-harm, self-inflicted violence, or self-mutilation, can be defined as self-inflicted physical harm severe enough to cause tissue damage or leave visible marks that do not fade within a few hours. Acts done for purposes of suicide or for ritual, sexual or ornamentation purposes are not considered self-injury. This document refers to what is commonly known as moderate or superficial self-injury, particularly repetitive SI; these guidelines do not hold for cases of major self-mutilation (i.e., castration, eye enucleation, or amputation).

Because of the stigma and lack of readily available information about self-harm, people who resort to this method of coping often receive treatment from physicians (particularly in emergency rooms) and mental-health professionals that can actually make their lives worse instead of better. Based on hundreds of negative experiences reported by people who self-harm, the following Bill of Rights is an attempt to provide information to medical and mental-health personnel. The goal of this project is to enable them to more clearly understand the emotions that underlie self-injury and to respond to self-injurious behaviour in a way that protects the patient as well as the practitioner.

Please visit a well resourced American site dedicated to Self Injury at: http://crystal.palace.net/~llama/psych/injury.html

Please visit a UK site at:
www.selfinjury.org.uk

and
www.lifesigns.ukf.net (Self Injury Guidance & Network Support) UK Organisation

Or email:
Wedge@selfinjury.org.uk