Skip Ribbon Commands
Skip to main content

Self-Harm is Something You Should Know About

March 1st, 2015     By Boys Town Contributor

Cutting, Depression, Harmful Behaviors, Self-Injury, Teens, Tweens

March is Self-Harm Awareness Month. Approximately one in eight people engages in some form of self-harm behavior, and the problem currently is more widespread than it has been for decades.

Fortunately, I have not had any direct exposure to or first-hand experience with self-harm. I never had a friend in school who hurt himself or herself and I don’t have friends with kids who have hurt themselves, so it’s something that is fairly foreign to me. However, I do have two young children and self-harm is something that concerns me as they get older.

The scary thing about self-harm is that kids can hide it pretty easily.  As kids get older, they want more privacy and they spend more time away from parents. If they are hurting themselves, they may so things like cut themselves in places that are usually covered by clothing or wear long-sleeved shirts. But while the physical evidence of self-harm can often be concealed, there are other signs parents can watch for, including:

  • Secretive or elusive behavior
  • Spending a lot of time alone
  • Unexplained marks on the body
  • Wearing thick wristbands that are never removed

I recently learned that self-harm and cutting usually aren’t a suicide attempt. Typically, people intentionally injure themselves as a way to cope with other crises in their lives. Kids and teens, who have even fewer coping mechanisms than adults, must be taught better ways to deal with situations that might be stressful or seem overwhelming.

At Boys Town, we have a lot of experience addressing self-harm behaviors and the reasons kids resort to them. If you or someone you know would like more information about self-harm and how to address it, the following resources can be especially helpful:

Boys Town also has a toll-free National Hotline that answers calls 24/7 if you or your child needs to talk to a counselor; just call 1-800-448-3000. You also can find direct advice from Hotline counselors on this issue.

Life can hurt sometimes. But that doesn’t mean kids have to hurt themselves to cope.

Related Posts

 

 

Crisis Tools for Teenshttps://www.parenting.org/blog/Pages/Crisis-Tools-for-Teens.aspxCrisis Tools for TeensIn today’s world, it is easy to get angry or anxious and wonder what the future holds. This is especially true for your teenagers.March 04, 2022Parenting AdviceIn today’s world, it is easy to get angry or anxious and wonder what the future holds. This is especially true for your teenagers.Boys Town Contributor
Five Tips for Overcoming Stress and Sadness During Times of Crisishttps://www.parenting.org/blog/Pages/Five-Tips-for-Overcoming-Stress-and-Sadness-During-Times-Crisis.aspxFive Tips for Overcoming Stress and Sadness During Times of CrisisMarch 30th, 2020Parenting AdviceBridget Barnes
Plugging into Our Families – Instead of Our Deviceshttps://www.parenting.org/blog/Pages/Plugging-into-Our-Families-Instead-of-Our-Devices.aspxPlugging into Our Families – Instead of Our Devices​When a national survey found that more screen time coincides with less happiness among teens, it helped confirm what a lot of parents already beli...March 21st, 2018Parenting Advice​When a national survey found that more screen time coincides with less happiness among teens, it helped confirm what a lot of parents already beli...Boys Town Contributor