For Professionals

Welcome to our page for professionals! This page is to link professionals with other websites that contain current information about self-injury in youth. There is general information, information for school professionals and other professionals. Specific resources also include the Self Assessment Sheet for those working with youth who self injure and the Ottawa Self Injury Inventory (OSI), and Functions only version of the OSI. Recent evaluation research publications on the OSI are provided for those interested.

General Information for Professionals

Self-Injury in Youth: The Essential Guide to Assessment and Intervention

Self-Injury in Youth

Nixon, M. K., & Heath, N. L. (June, 2008). Self-Injury in Youth: The Essential Guide to Assessment and Intervention. New York: Routledge Press.

This text represents the first evidenced based multi-author, multi-discipline publication that aims at providing the most up to date information regarding understanding and treating self injury in youth. In addition to having authors who represent the leading researchers in the field, this volume offers those working with these youth practical and step wise approaches to assessment and intervention.

In addition, Chapter 15 is a Resource Guide for Working with Youth, listing articles, manuals, web resources and books about self-injury for professionals, families and youth themselves.

Visions – young people: self-injury

Visions - young people: self-injury This journal includes articles by youth who self injury and families and shares their stories. Understanding the journey of others can sometimes be helpful in finding your own path or helping others who self injury. It also includes a summary of research and practical suggestions for professionals by clinicians and researchers. Young People: Self-injury, from self harm to self care, you can’t know if you don’t ask (Visions; BC’s Mental Health and Addictions Journal, Vol13 No.2, 2017)

About Self-Injury and Recovery

Cornell: Self-Injury - Detection, Intervention, & Treatment

Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is the deliberate, self-inflicted destruction of body tissue resulting in immediate damage, without suicidal intent and for purposes not culturally sanctioned.

Information for School Professionals

Self-Injury Outreach and Support: A Guide for School Professionals

Self-Injury – A Guide For School Professionals Contents include:

  • Definition of non-suicidal self-injury
  • Why students self-injure
  • How do I know a student self-injures?
  • First Response
  • Referral Process
  • School Response Protocol
  • Other Considerations
  • Do students stop self-injuring?
  • References and Resources

NSSI in Schools: Developing and Implementing a School Protocol

Cornell Research Program on Self-Injury

Information for Mental Health Clinicians and other Helping Professionals/Physicians

Ottawa Self Injury Inventory (OSI)


This self report questionnaire has been used in youth in both outpatient and inpatient mental health settings to assess aspects of the behaviour.

Revised June 2015

Ottawa Self Injury Inventory-Functions
(OSI-F)

This is a much abbreviated version of the OSI that focuses solely on identifying functions of self-injury such as affect regulation, interpersonal influence, self punishment, sensation seeking, etc. These questions are part of the longer version of the OSI and are currently being evaluated.Revised June 2015

OSI Scoring Key

This scoring key is based on a factor analysis of the OSI in youth.

Self Assessment Sheet (SAS)


The Self Assessment Sheet (SAS) was developed to assess and follow over time self harm behaviour and associated issues.

The SAS:

  1. Identifies possible triggers
  2. Identifies cognitions associated with SI act
  3. Rates intensity of emotional state using a likeart scale
  4. Addresses any attempts to cope differently
  5. Provides a self assessment rating scale re coping
  6. Asks to youth to identify any consequences of their behaviour
  7. Can be used as both an assessment tool and a means to monitor any use of different coping skills with treatment over time.

Revised 2012

 

Publications on the Ottawa Self-Injury Inventory

PubMed.gov: Ottawa Self-Injury Inventory Psychometric properties of the functions and addictive features scales of the Ottawa Self-Injury Inventory: a preliminary investigation using a unive… – PubMed – NCBI

2013

The Ottawa Self-Injury Inventory: Evaluationof an assessment measure of nonsuicidalself-injury in an inpatient sample of adolescents The Ottawa Self-Injury Inventory: Evaluation of an assessment measure of nonsuicidal self-injury in an inpatient sample of adolescents.

2015

A psychometric analysis of the Ottawa self-injury inventory-f A psychometric analysis of the Ottawa self-injury inventory-f: Journal of American College Health: Vol 66, No 1

2017

This website is intended for educational and information purposes only. It is not intended to provide, nor should it be considered to be a substitute for, professional medical, counselling, or legal services. Users of the site are strongly advised to discuss the content of the site with a qualified professional. INSYNC does not accept any liability for any person who relies on the content of this site.