Self mutilation

I would like to address the issue self mutilation.  Through my experience as a volunteer at the Austin State Hospital, I learned about the prevalence and severity of this problem in the female, adolescent population.   Self mutilation, or "cutting" is often associated with body image issues, and effects a diverse group of people.  Through my work at the State Hospital, I noticed that writing, especially poetry, was an effective outlet for teenage girls struggling with this issue.  The poems I read while working with these patients were beautiful, alarming, vulnerable, and brave.  I would like to suggest a few websites for anyone interested in learning more about self-injury, who it effects, and how to help.

www.helpguide.org/mental/self_injury.htm

www.wso.williams.edu/~atimofey/selfmutilation/

www.palace.net/~llama/psych/injury.html

www.mirror-mirror/selfing.htm