Our Story
Hi! I’m Dr. Janis Whitlock, creator of the Self Injury and Recovery Resources website. This site houses resources developed to support individuals with lived NSSI experience, professionals, and anyone affected by self-injury – directly or indirectly.
In 2004, I established the Cornell Research Program on Self-Injury and Recovery to investigate what was then widely perceived as a new and emerging behavior among youth and adults. My interest was sparked when self-injury entered my personal life. Having worked for over a decade with youth and families before becoming a researcher, I hadn’t encountered this behavior and wanted to understand it better. What began as a small study on college campus prevalence grew into something much larger than I could have imagined, primarily because the need for reliable information was so pressing.
Over the years, we’ve conducted numerous studies on a wide range of self-injury topics. Our mission evolved to include translating our findings, along with those of other researchers, into accessible materials for individuals who self-injure, their loved ones, and professionals. I’m deeply committed to ensuring that the knowledge we and others have produced benefits those who can use it most. This dedication led to the creation of the Self-Injury and Recovery and Resources (SIRR) website. We sincerely hope this resource proves useful to all who access it.
This endeavor has been made possible through the invaluable assistance of many individuals, including key staff members, affiliated researchers, educators, clinicians, and numerous students. While some contributors are recognized through authorship, others have left their mark through behind-the-scenes efforts. I am deeply grateful for all these contributions, which have been instrumental in advancing our understanding of self-injury and supporting those affected by it.
Work With Me
Dr. Whitlock provides a range of consulting services for youth-serving professionals, school personnel, and clinical/medical professionals. She can assist schools, families and communities with:
- Training needs in the area of non-suicidal self-injury and other topics related to youth mental health and wellbeing, including social media and mental health
- Protocol development aimed at differentiating NSSI and suicide
- Strength-based intervention and prevention
- Working with families in schools and through independent coaching
For more information about Dr. Whitlock’s consultation services, contact her at jlw43@cornell.edu
Join Our Listserv
Send an email to crpsib-l-request@cornell.edu. The body of the message should simply be “join”. Be sure to send your “join” message from the email address where you want to receive CRPSIR (previously CRPSIB) updates.
Have a Question? Contact Us!
We welcome your thoughts, suggestions, and stories. Please feel free to email us at self-injury@cornell.edu or fill out the following contact form.
