Abstract
Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is an increasing concern among mental health professionals working with youth. The presence
of NSSI on the Internet has grown considerably over the last decade. Studies investigating NSSI Internet activities suggest
a strong adolescent audience. Research suggests that the general Internet experiences for youth who are currently engaging
in or have a history of NSSI may be different than that of youth who do not engage in the behavior. The present study is the
first to simultaneously examine the scope and nature of NSSI content across informational/interactive websites, social networking
websites, and the popular video-sharing website YouTube, in order to provide mental health practitioners with a multifaceted
description of online content related to NSSI. Results suggest that peer driven, informal websites have a variety of triggering
content and are accessed more often than professionally driven websites. NSSI is strongly represented among social networking
websites, and YouTube, evidenced by large group memberships and video view counts. Based on these findings, a series of practical
implications and recommendations are provided to assist mental health practitioners in assessing online NSSI-related activities
among youth who are currently engaging in or have a history of NSSI, with implications for intervention and recovery.
of NSSI on the Internet has grown considerably over the last decade. Studies investigating NSSI Internet activities suggest
a strong adolescent audience. Research suggests that the general Internet experiences for youth who are currently engaging
in or have a history of NSSI may be different than that of youth who do not engage in the behavior. The present study is the
first to simultaneously examine the scope and nature of NSSI content across informational/interactive websites, social networking
websites, and the popular video-sharing website YouTube, in order to provide mental health practitioners with a multifaceted
description of online content related to NSSI. Results suggest that peer driven, informal websites have a variety of triggering
content and are accessed more often than professionally driven websites. NSSI is strongly represented among social networking
websites, and YouTube, evidenced by large group memberships and video view counts. Based on these findings, a series of practical
implications and recommendations are provided to assist mental health practitioners in assessing online NSSI-related activities
among youth who are currently engaging in or have a history of NSSI, with implications for intervention and recovery.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-12
- DOI 10.1007/s12310-011-9065-6
- Authors
- Jamie M. Duggan, School and Applied Child Psychology, Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, McGill University, 3700 McTavish Street, Montreal, QC H3A 1Y2, Canada
- N. L. Heath, Human Development and School and Applied Child Psychology, McGill University, 3700 McTavish Street, Montreal, QC H3A 1Y2, Canada
- Stephen P. Lewis, Department of Psychology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
- Alyssa L. Baxter, School and Applied Child Psychology, Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, McGill University, 3700 McTavish Street, Montreal, QC H3A 1Y2, Canada
- Journal School Mental Health
- Online ISSN 1866-2633
- Print ISSN 1866-2625