Self-injury iis a major mental health issue that can affect people of all ages, gender, or racial/ethnic groups and is believed to be increasing among adolescents and youth Females are significantly more likely to self-mutilate as compared to males. Serious steps like provision of training programs for religious leaders, mandatory mental health continuing education program related to extension of visa and allocation of resources in prevention rather than resolution will be helpful in coping the self-injury issue in general and ethno-cultural youth in particular.

1. Self injury: Mental health
Naseem Saeed Sherwani, PhD.
nassherwani@gmail.com
6/9/2012 1Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion (HCCI)

2. Self Injury
• The act of deliberately harming oneself,
causing minor to moderate injuries without
suicidal intent and includes a variety of
behaviors such as cutting, stabbing, burning,
and scratching the skin
• Reasons-Lack of coping mechanism
6/9/2012 2Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion (HCCI)

3. What is known so far about Self Injury?
6/9/2012 3Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion (HCCI)

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6. Prevalence of self injury
• Actual prevalence of self injury is unknown
• Percentages in the general populationvary
considerably with rates of
4% for adults
17–38% among college students
69% among high-risk youth
Estimates for psychiatric inpatients
range from 21% to 82%
6/9/2012 6Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion (HCCI)

7. • Self-mutilation, self injury is a major mental health
issue that can affect people of all ages, gender, or
racial/ethnic groups and is believed to be increasing
among adolescents and youth
• Females are significantly more likely to self-mutilate
as compared to males
6/9/2012 7Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion (HCCI)
Prevalence of self-injury (Cont’d)

8. Self injury among Ethno-cultural youth
• Child maltreatment
• Cultural shocks
• Current economic instability
• Lack of awarenessrelated to mental health
• Express and regulate intolerable emotions by
creating a sense of control
6/9/2012 8Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion (HCCI)

9. Reaching out our people
• Usage of network
• Respecting cultural norms
• Assurance of confidentiality and anonymity
• What is in it For Me (WIFM)
• Language
• Provision of training programs for religious leaders
• Mandatory Mental Health Continuing Education
program related to extension of visa
• Resources in prevention rather than resolution
6/9/2012 9Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion (HCCI)

10. Any Question
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