Ruta Mazelis joined Sidran’s staff in 2004, continuing her role as editor of The Cutting Edge newsletter, which she founded in 1990. She is a popular speaker and trainer who presents nationally on behalf of Sidran on the issues surrounding self-inflicted violence and other self harming behaviors.

She frequently consults to the federal Center for Mental Health Services on topics related to abuse, dual diagnoses, self-injury and criminal-justice involved survivors. She provided extensive technical assistance to the SAMHSA Women, Co-occurring Disorders and Violence Project and is currently on the board of the National Trauma Consortium.

Ms. Mazelis has worked as a counselor in inpatient chemical dependency services as well as in an outpatient setting with adolescents. In addition to The Cutting Edge newsletter, she has published numerous articles and contributed to research studies about self-inflicted injury, women, co-occurring disorders and violence, and substance abuse treatment.