Cutting On The Edge: The Self-Injury Puzzle and how it is trending during the middle school years.
Presenter Name(s)
Ms. Shironda Brown
Dr. Natacha Billups-Thomas
Target Audience
Middle
Abstract
GCSA Proposal
Cutting On the Edge: The Self-Injury Puzzle and How It Is Trending During the Middle School Years
Ms. Shironda D. Brown, MS, Ed.S
8th Grade School Counselor/ Lead Counselor
Burke County Middle School/ District Burke County Public School
356 Southside Drive
Waynesboro Ga 30830
(706) 554-3532- Work
(706) 993-8879 – Cell
Educational Background- Fort Valley State University, Cambridge College
Honors: Featured in May DOE Spotlight Counselor’s edition
Description
GCSA Proposal
Cutting On the Edge: The Self-Injury Puzzle and How It Is Trending During the Middle School Years
Self-Injury behavior such as cutting is becoming prevalent during the middle school years. The notion is that students are doing this as a suicide attempt, but the main emphasis according to research would be that it could be linked to emotional imbalance, depression or attention seeking behaviors. However, it is interesting during the twenty first century to discover that self- injury behaviors are trendy and an area of concern during the middle school years. It is also a known fact that the most popular students preferably “girls” will demonstrate cutting out of peer pressure or just simply keeping up with this newfound trend. Boy’s in the middle school year’s typical display self- injury behavior like cutting because of depression. Consequently in this presentation risk factors will be explained about prevalence and onset warning signs that are typically linked to this self inflicted injury. Moreover this presentation will captivate techniques that can be utilized in such a way could be helpful to teachers, parents, and administrator’s since some self injury behaviors occur during the middle school sector. In this presentation, it will be also be explained how self- injury usually occur repeatedly and is impulsive by students. The most common methods are demonstrated by these young people are: skin cutting (70-90%), head banging, and burning. Other forms of self-injury include excessive scratching to the point that blood is drawn; this injury could exemplify a therapeutic feeling to release pain or being infatuated with the sight of seeing blood drawn. Furthermore this presentation will also demonstrate how common self- injury occurs, and how research indicates that this occurrence can also happen with adults in the United States (approximately 4%). Research also emphasizes that rates are higher among adolescents, who seem to be at an increased risk for self-injury with approximately 15% of teens reporting some form of self-injury behavior. Students who participate in self-injury report they feel empty inside, lonely and not understood by others, so cutting may be the alternative approach to increasing self-esteem. Self- injuries are often a way to cope and relieve painful situations or when students can’t express themselves, but generally do not become a suicide attempt. Students who engage in self- injury behavior resolve interpersonal difficulty, like a disagreement with friends, or deal with interpersonal problems of boredom. However, since counselors are in the business of a helping profession, it would be good to encourage the students to safely release painful feelings of journal writing and discuss the writings with those particular students. Last, this presentation will exemplify a sound structure process of forms that can be utilized when encountering students who are displaying self –injury behaviors.
Ms. Shironda D. Brown, MS, Ed.S
8th Grade School Counselor/ Lead Counselor
Burke County Middle School/ District Burke County Public School
356 Southside Drive
Waynesboro Ga 30830
(706) 554-3532- Work
(706) 993-8879 – Cell
Educational Background- Fort Valley State University, Cambridge College
Honors: Featured in May DOE Spotlight Counselor’s edition