Understanding Self Harm
and Your Child

Self-harming can occur at any age, though it can be exponentially more upsetting to learn that your own child is engaging in self-injury. Regardless of how upsetting it can be to learn that it is happening, it cannot be ignored. Individuals can engage in self-harm for many reasons, it can be an attempt to divert attention from emotional pain or cope with an upsetting situation such as bullying or even a response to depressive symptoms.

Adolescents are oftentimes unaware of how self-harm or “non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) can impact their health and life. Due to this they are likely to continue engaging in self-injury if there is no intervention. For a child to develop strategies to meet their problems head-on in a healthy way, it can be critical for parents to recognize warning signs and seek treatment with a trained professional.

Self-harm In Children: A Growing Concern

Self-harm is a serious concern that is fast growing among the young people around the world. According to Mental Health America, the risk of self-harm is higher among young people by about 15 percent.

In the UK, the self-harm statistics show that in the 2014 -2015, “NHS hospitals treated more than 18,000 girls and 4,600 boys … after they had deliberately harmed themselves. During the same period, cases involving children between 10 and 14 rose from 4,008 to 5,192 – a rise of 30 percent.”

In Australia, self-harm has been observed in children as young as 3 to 5 years of age. A study on self-harm in children reveals that “approximately 7.6 percent of 10-year-olds to 12-year-olds report self-harm.”

What Causes Children to Self-harm?

There are many possible motivators for self-harm. Growing statistics indicate that self-injury may be on the rise due to severe emotional distress due to “unprecedented social pressures.” Some young people tell Kids Helpline they engage in self-harm to:

  • Escape from overwhelming negative emotions such as anger, frustration, sadness or loneliness.
  • Help them to feel ‘something’, when they would typically feel numb or ‘not really alive’.
  • Punish themselves – some young people carry a belief from past trauma or abuse that they are essentially ‘bad’ and need to be punished.
  • Various behavioral health disorders can also include self-injuring behavior. It is important that your child has a thorough assessment by a professional to determine whether this may be the case for them.

The Link Between Emotional Health and Self-harm

Self-harming behaviors often occur in conjunction with other diagnoses, such as PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), bipolar disorder, eating disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder or schizophrenia.

Regardless of the reason for self-harm, one thing is apparent – your child is in distress and needs help. Injuring themselves is an unhealthy means of coping. Unfortunately, self-harm can go undetected as it is often done in secrecy.

Warning signs to be aware of can include low self-esteem, difficulty interacting with others, performing poorly in school, irritability, angry outbursts, signs of injury and/or bloodied clothes. Individuals who self-harm will often wear clothing that covers their limbs during times that it may not be appropriate. For example, wearing long sleeves and pants during the hot summer months when they would normally wear shorts or short sleeved shirts.

Reacting to Your Child’s “Plea” for Help

Those marks of self-harm could be silent pleas from a child lost in their distress, fear, anger, shame, guilt or confusion. Self-injury can be frightening, but you are not alone, help is available. Seek help immediately from a caring child therapist.

Treating self-injury can take time and a great deal of understanding and support. They may face setbacks, but with your love and the assistance of a counselor independently contracted with Carolina Counseling Services – Pinehurst, NC they can find healthier alternatives. Call today and schedule an appointment.

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