Mental Health Videos & Media Misconceptions

Many media outlets are leading people to believe that all self-injury related videos should be removed from YouTube, including ones where people tell their stories in a non-graphic, non-triggering way. They are claiming that even talking about self-injury can encourage others to do it, because they don't feel alone in the urge to do so. I do not agree with this! I am implementing a media-BAN on using my image until a respectable journalist wants to tell both sides of the story, and I urge all of you who are contacted to do the same. Talking and sharing our stories helps! I am AGAINST triggering and graphic videos, but am the biggest advocate for opening up and TALKING about self-injury and spreading awareness! Lets keep on fighting the good fight!

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• self injury
• si
• cutting
• triggering
• helpful
• hurtful
• help
• media
• news
• GMA
• video
• graphic
• disorders
• depression
• anxiety
• mental health
• xsullengirlx
• christie stewart

[sumerfaith6]

What charms are on your necklace?? And I just wanted to let you know you are truly inspiring I could never make videos about my self injury...I am a recovering self injurer and as you know we are always recovering this is my longest time it's been probably about 9ish months

[xsullengirlx]

@sumerfaith6 It's an orange self injury awareness ribbon, and a silver ribbon that says "hope". I make them and sell them :) Thank you for the kind words, it is hard to make videos but I am glad they can help you a little bit. I am so proud of you for the 9 months, you can do it! :D Have faith in yourself.

[SelfishFake]

Why don't you start a campaign? :) I'd help if you needed it.

[xsullengirlx]

@SelfishFake I'd love to... We should discuss ideas. I'm not sure what we'd do, but I am totally up for it if you are. :)

[Shoes454]

Media should leave it alone

[xsullengirlx]

@Shoes454 Well, if the media wants to talk about self injury they should do it in an honest way that shows both sides, or in a non-biased way. Awareness is good, but not when it's all for shock value and lies.

[coffeetree]

Your 100% correct, I self harmed for 6 years before youtube even existed, I suscribe to you because i feel that I can relate to you and I can feel safe in the knowledge that you won't post anything triggering, so thank you for being there when I felt I had no one to relate to.

[FatherSoilderBrick]

What can i physically do when i spend all my day on my own thinking about my old girlfriend who i did everything with and then coming home sleep and run through the same cycle because 7 months down i don't know what to do

[DottedShoe]

you inspired me to make a video about my cutting thanks <3 no ones commented yet though haha

[DottedShoe]

Your videos are really helpfulx

[manegirlsu]

... but we NEED to talk about it. We have AA for alcoholics, we have NA for drug addicts. Guess what, it works! There is an online meeting at a site called stepchat . com for people who self injure. It is free and fast to register, you only give your email. It's in room 5, just look on the meeting schedule for SMA. We are small but growing :). We are 12 step and take many principles from NA. Anyone is welcome to check it out. We can do together what we could not do alone.

[manegirlsu]

Triggering videos can lead people SI, but I don't think it does if it wasn't already in their head. What about shows like Intervention on A&E showing the life of a drug user shooting up, popping pills, smoking up.. picking up in any way right on camera. Isn't that triggering too? But they don't get crapped on. It seems these reports and society are trying to blame those brave souls who open up about SI, for the problem, like they think it will stop if people stop talking about it.

[spoofmasterc]

I hope my story I did with you a couple years ago didn't come off as biased (I'm that former journalism student from Winnipeg, Canada). You are right, issues like self-injury don't get better by being ignored and the media has a role. Too bad so many "reporters" forget what responsible journalism is, but I guess viewers don't like thinking while watching the news -- and viewers are needed to sell ads. Boo I say, Boo!

[paperwhiterose]

Self harm in magazines gave me the idea to Start cutting, because the publisher or whatever it is didn't include that the stories may trigger or give an idea, so i thought 'oh,it's okay to do this',because they didn't say 'hey, dont do this.' I think if they would give better info. Then it would be 'okay' to put it in magazines or something.

[amulchinock]

@xsullengirlx I might be able to help you out there.... :)