SMA stands for Self Mutilators Anonymous, a 12-step program designed to help those who turn to self harm (NSSI, non-suicidal self injury) as a coping mechanism and consider it an addiction. This week we bring you into a meeting to hear 5 different "qualifications" of SMA members. A qualification is essentially a brief history of their lives and how they got to SMA. We hope you listen with intent and compassion, millions of people in the United States use 12-step programs to cope with a variety of struggles but this SMA meeting is 1 of only 3 in the country (1 in New York, 2 in California) despite the program being started by James McLaughlin and Shelly in 1986. They're also the only self harm support group that we know of in the world. Thank you to James McLaughlin, Amanda Beausoleil, Garrett Allen, Liz and Sarah for shining a light on this cause. 

 

Meeting Begins (2:12)

James (5:49)

Amanda (18:19)

Liz (30:37)

Garrett (41:43)

Sarah (55:56)

Closing Statement (1:05:04)

 

SMA Website: http://www.selfmutilatorsanonymous.org/home.html

 

Guests: James McLaughlin, Amanda Beausoleil, Garrett Allen, Liz and SarahHost: John TessitoreEditor: Mike EspositoProducers: John Tessitore, Mike EspositoMusicians: L.Farber, TaiCheeba, JaōPhotographer: Dominick Frabizio

 

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JCKFoundation.org/collectedlayers