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What is Self-directed Violence?

Nika Ball, MOT, OTR/L, ATP, Angela Moss, PhD, RN, APRN-BC

May 20, 2021

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Question

What is self-directed violence?

Answer

Self-directed violence or SDV is another term that is commonly used among mental health professionals, that describes a range of violent behaviors, including acts of fatal and non-fatal suicidal behavior and non-suicidal intentional harm. 

An example of self-directed violence might be cutting. This where you have an individual who feels numb or describes a feeling of numbness, and they just want to feel something again, and so they cut themselves.

 

This Ask the Expert is an edited excerpt from the webinar, Suicide Awareness, Assessment, and Intervention for Allied Health Professionals, Module 5presented by Nika Ball, MOT, OTR/L, ATP and Angela Moss, PhD RN, APRN-BC


nika ball

Nika Ball, MOT, OTR/L, ATP

Nika Ball, MOT, OTR/L, ATP, is the CEU Administrator/Assistant Editor for OccupationalTherapy.com. She has been an occupational therapist for 14 years and worked in a variety of settings, including hospital, acute rehabilitation, skilled nursing facility, outpatient, and home healthcare. Ms. Ball received her Assistive Technology Professional certification from RESNA in 2017. She is an American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) field advocate and is passionate about mental health awareness, advocacy, and education. Ms. Ball has participated in multiple annual AFSP fundraiser/awareness community walks for suicide prevention as team leader and participant.


angela moss

Angela Moss, PhD, RN, APRN-BC

Dr. Angela Moss, PhD, RN, APRN-BC, is Assistant Dean of Faculty Practice and Assistant Professor, Community Systems and Mental Health, at Rush University College of Nursing in Chicago, Illinois. She is responsible for the development and maintenance of over 30 diverse community-based partnerships whereby faculty nurses and nurse practitioners provide primary and mental health care to vulnerable populations in communities across Chicago. Dr. Moss is a board certified, practicing Adult Nurse Practitioner, and beginning in 2009, founded a nurse-managed primary care health clinic with mental health integration for low-income foodservice workers near Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. Dr. Moss is passionate about mental health awareness, and is an American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) community walk team leader and advocate.


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