NCSS Here For You Episode – Self-Harm Awareness

Guests:Aubrianna Mayette, Miss Northwestern Vermont’s Teen 2024, and Dana Postemski, MA, BCBA, Master Clinician & Board-Certified Behavior Analyst at NCSS

The month of March was Self-Harm Awareness Month with the purpose of spreading awareness, breaking the stigma, and providing support and hope to those who have or currently self-harm.  According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, self-harm is also known as nonsuicidal self-injury and describes the act of purposely harming oneself; this act is often done by burning, cutting, pulling out hair, or picking at wounds to prevent healing. Self-harm indicates emotional distress and can lead to injury as severe as broken bones.

Adolescents have been observed to have the highest rate of self-injury with the age of 13 being the first time they encounter this behavior.  Recently, high school sophomore, Aubrianna Mayette introduced her Orange Ribbon Project to raise awareness about self-harm in our community.  Today we’ll hear about Aubrianna’s journey and what she’s doing to help others.