“I’ve struggled with self-injury since I was 17. I’m now 32. Through my twenties and up into the present, I’ve done my best to raise awareness about self-injury. But misconceptions still abound today. The discussions of self-injury even remain on the fringes of mental health conversations. And those who struggle often stay hidden in the shadows. I wear orange to raise AWAREness about self-injury: that it statistically affects as many men as women. That it is not about suicide. That it does not discriminate based on gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status or age. That critical scientific research is being done at the Cornell Research Program on Self-Injury and Recovery (and other places). That resources are available, even if it’s just reaching out to someone who sees you. That it is possible to stop. That it’s okay to still struggle. That your scars don’t have to be shameful. That beating yourself up for beating yourself up is a zero-sum game. That sometimes self-compassion is imperfect, but it’s still worth it. That there is always room for hope, even when that prospect feels distant.” @bmoroski