Faculty Publications

School Counselors And Student Self-Injury

Document Type

Article

Keywords

Adolescent health, Mental health, School counselors, Self-injury

Journal/Book/Conference Title

Journal of School Health

Volume

77

Issue

5

First Page

257

Last Page

264

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to examine the experience, knowledge, and needs of school counselors in relation to students' self-injurious behaviors. METHODS: One thousand members of the American School Counselor Association were randomly selected to receive a questionnaire on the study of self-injury. Four hundred forty-three school counselors returned usable questionnaires. RESULTS: Most (81%) reported working with a self-injurer during their career, and 51% reported working with a self-injurer during the 2002-2003 school year. Findings suggest that counselors feel they are the appropriate person to work with students who self-injure but need more training to identify self-injurers and refer them to appropriate resources outside of the school. Counselors identified a number of barriers to successfully working with students who self-injure, such as lack of training, lack of cooperation with school personnel, and lack of policy on school injury. CONCLUSIONS: The authors suggest a model where the school counselor acts as a liaison to ensure the coordination of education about self-injury for students, parents, and school staff and as a conduit to refer students to therapists in the community. © 2007, American School Health Association.

Department

School of Health, Physical Education, and Leisure Services

Original Publication Date

5-1-2007

DOI of published version

10.1111/j.1746-1561.2007.00201.x

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