Emotion and Pain: Understanding Self-Injury

The page describes self-injury as a cry for help, and the film as a look at cutting: harming yourself to relieve stress from abuse, trauma, and other unmanageable emotions. It notes that most people who do this are women, and that millions of people cut to feel some control.

Hourglass (the production name used on the page) frames the film as a way to demystify a misunderstood disorder and encourage people to seek help. It includes personal stories from people who cut and from their families.

Commentary comes from Dr. Wendy Lader and Karen Conterio, founders of S.A.F.E. Alternatives, a treatment center for self-injury. The stated goal is to help both people who self-injure and the people supporting them, and to encourage treatment.

Self-injury is a cry for help.