Self harm is on the rise* in the US and around the globe. Yet many misconceptions around the behavior continue to persist. These misconceptions often lead to missed opportunities to intervene and provide proper treatment. It also leaves those who self-harm feeling stigmatized and ashamed to ask for help.   What is Self Harm?  Self-harm is the more commonly used word for Nonsuicidal Self-Injury (NSSI). Mental health professionals use the definition of NSSI from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5): the deliberate, self-inflicted destruction of body tissue without suicidal intent and for purposes not socially sanctioned, includes behaviors such as cutting, burning, biting and scratching skin.  While the…