When is it appropriate for someone who engages in nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) to be admitted to an acute psychiatric inpatient program? And how realistic is it to expect no self-injury or self-harm to occur at all while in the hospital? How should hospital staff respond and intervene when someone engages in self-injury while on an inpatient unit? In this episode, Dr. Jason Washburn addresses these questions and discusses how hospital staff can foster empathy and compassion for individuals who self-injure while respecting their autonomy and also keeping them safe.

Learn more about Dr. Washburn and his work here. Below are links to some of his work, including his books as editor and new research. To learn more about AMITA Health and its treatment for self-injury, click here. 

Washburn, J. J. (2014). Self-injury: Simple answers to complex questions. Hoffman Estates, IL: Alexian Brothers Press.

Washburn, J. J. (2019). Nonsuicidal self-injury: Advances in research and practice . New York: Routledge.

Slesinger, N. C., Hayes, N. A., & Washburn, J. J. (2021). Understanding predictors of change in a day treatment setting for non-suicidal self-injury. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, and Practice, 94, 517–535.

Follow Dr. Westers on Instagram and Twitter (@DocWesters). To join ISSS, visit itriples.org and follow ISSS on Facebook and Twitter (@ITripleS).

The Psychology of Self-Injury podcast has been rated #5 by Feedspot in their "Top 15 Clinical Psychology Podcasts You Must Follow in 2021" and by Welp Magazine in their "20 Best Injury Podcasts of 2021."