Understanding and Responding to Students Who Self-Mutilate

By Richard Lieberman, Crisis Specialty Group Co-Chair

Students who self-mutilate present significant challenges to school administrators and crisis teams. Self-mutilation is one of the least understood behaviors of adolescence and appears to be increasing at a staggering rate. Today, for every 100,000 adolescents, it is estimated that between 750 and 1,800 will exhibit self-injurious behaviors (SIB) (Suyemoto & Kountz, 2000). This translates to 150,000 to 360,000 students nationwide, more than 70% of whom are female.

Often known as cutters, students who self-mutilate repetitively and intentionally inflict bodily harm on themselves. They typically engage in the behavior secretively and may do so at school in bathrooms, empty locker rooms, or other secluded areas. They also might come to school with recent wounds or injuries. When these injuries are initially identified and the student is referred to the school nurse or mental health professional, the student typically appears to be at low risk for suicide but is very likely at risk of further p

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