The Faculty of Psychology UGM in collaboration with the Center for Public Mental Health (CPMH) held an Online Lecture (KulOn) with the topic “NSSI Phenomenon among Students & College Student: Protective Factors & Risk Factors” (19/09). NSSI is one of the things that individuals do to deal with feelings that are difficult to manage, but NSSI is not a clinical diagnosis or mental disorder.
According to research in 2022 by Wang and colleagues, it was found that teenage girls and boys have a different tendency to do NSSI and statistically NSSI behavior is more common in girls. “We want to convey a warning to women that we are more vulnerable to NSSI. So, please be more vigilant,” urged Nurul Kusuma Hidayati, M.Psi., Psychologist as one of the speakers at KulOn this time.
In addition, Wirdatul Anisa, M.Psi., Psychologist also explained that NSSI behavior can cause addiction. “Therefore, the behavior of self-harm is not seen from the motive, but seen from the person’s desire to hurt himself without any intention of killing him or her self.” For individuals who do not have mental disorders, but then solve their problems by doing NSSI as a form of instant problem solving, it will potentially lead to mental disorders, depression, or anxiety disorders if allowed to continue.
Through this KulOn topic, it is also explained what conditions can make individuals susceptible to NSSI behavior or are referred to as risk factors. Things that can be risk factors are bad experiences in childhood, low ability to manage emotions, inability to express thoughts or feelings, low self-esteem, low stress tolerance, lack of ability to solve problems, family members or peers having NSSI, using social media, having mental disorders, and low knowledge about health. “It doesn’t mean that there are more risk factors, how come there are fewer protective factors, as if the protective factors were losing, no. However, we want to show that there are many conditions that must be watched out for and observed so that they can be anticipated, “explained Nurul.
Meanwhile, for protective factors as a condition that can protect or reduce individual vulnerability related to NSSI behavior, it was conveyed by Wirdatul. The protective factors in question consist of 3 things, namely social support, having positive coping, and mature emotional regulation.
“What should we do when we see or find people around us doing NSSI? First, increase literacy regarding NSSI behavior regarding dangers, consequences, unexpected impacts that were not known beforehand because NSSI actors do not know that NSSI can be something dangerous, “explained Nurul during the presentation of the material.