March is Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Awareness Month

March is Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Awareness Month which, along with the experience of surviving a suicide loss, are two deeply painful realities that, while distinct, often share common emotional undercurrents. Both involve profound struggles with mental health and the complex navigation of emotional pain. Understanding these experiences is essential for fostering compassion, reducing stigma and supporting healing.

Approximately 1 in 20 American adults have experienced self-harm. Additionally, 17% of adolescents and up to twice that percentage of college students are among those who have experienced NSSI. NSSI refers to the deliberate act of harming one’s own body without suicidal intent. Common forms include cutting, burning or hitting oneself. For those who engage in NSSI, the behavior often serves as a coping mechanism to manage intense emotions such as sadness, anger, anxiety or numbness. Contrary to common misconceptions, NSSI is not an attention-seeking behavior but often a private and shame-filled attempt to gain temporary relief from psychological distress. Research suggests that individuals who engage in NSSI are not necessarily seeking death but trying to feel something or to express emotions they find difficult to articulate.

Survivors of suicide loss, on the other hand, face a different but equally profound pain. Losing a loved one to suicide can lead to feelings of guilt, confusion, anger and deep sorrow. Many survivors grapple with questions that may never have clear answers: Could I have done something to prevent this? The stigma surrounding suicide can also lead to feelings of isolation, as survivors may struggle to find spaces where they feel understood and supported.

While NSSI and surviving a suicide loss are different experiences, they intersect in significant ways. Both are surrounded by societal misunderstanding and stigma, which can leave individuals feeling alone in their suffering. Additionally, both groups may experience complex emotions such as shame, guilt and grief. Addressing these challenges requires compassion, open conversations and access to mental health resources including support groups.

Healing from either experience often involves therapy, community support and, most importantly, self-compassion. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) have been shown to be particularly effective for those who struggle with NSSI. For survivors of suicide loss, support groups can provide a space to connect with others who understand their grief.

A Local Survivors of Suicide Loss Support Group meets every other Tuesday evening from 6:30 pm – 7:30 p.m. in Bluffton. For more information about the meetings on March 4 and March 18, contact KAMP Counseling, LLC at 940-594-8698.

Rob Pearson, M.S. is Executive Director of Mental Health America of the Lowcountry, providing daily adult group mental health counseling programs in Bluffton and Beaufort for clients with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, PTSD and more.  Contact: robp@mhalowcountry.org , 843-415-9110