What causes young people to self-harm?
Coping with emotional distress can be difficult, but what can parents do to stop their children hurting themselves? LISA SALMON finds out more
IT can be shocking to hear that people hurt themselves intentionally – particularly if they’re children. But many children and young people, as well as adults, self-harm.
Self-injury is a coping mechanism, says the charity LifeSIGNS (lifesigns.org.uk – Self-Injury Guidance & Network Support) – someone harms themself to deal with emotional pain, or to “break feelings of numbness”.
Are self-injury and self-harm the same thing?
LifeSIGNS says self-harm is an umbrella term that includes behaviours that harm people, including self-injury, but also things like eating disorders, risk-taking behaviours, and drug and alcohol misuse. Self-injury is a direct behaviour that causes injury to the person’s body.
Why do people self-injure?
The intention is to release tension and seek relief from distress. It’s a coping mechanism, and LifeSIGNS explains: “Physical pain is often easier to deal with than emotional pain, because it causes ‘real’ feelings. Injuries can prove to an individual that their emotional pain is real and valid.”
Who self-injures?
It can affect anybody, at any age. However, NHS research into non-suicidal self-harm (NSSH) found that one in five women and girls aged 16-24 years, reported self-harming. Alarming numbers of children are self-harming too – an analysis for BBC Radio 4’s File On 4 programme last year found the rate of self-harm among children aged nine to 12 in the UK doubled between 2014-2020. LifeSIGNS stresses: “There are certain characteristics that some people who self-injure share. These include, but are not restricted to, low selfesteem, perfectionism and high achievement, poor body image, trauma and abuse. Anyone who has anything distressing to cope with might potentially turn to self-injury.”
How do people injure themselves?
Self-harm comes in many forms, but the most common include scratching, cutting and burning.
How can parents help?
The best course of action would be to educate themselves about the issues surrounding self-injury, don’t show disgust or anger if their child has hurt themselves intentionally, be aware you’re not to blame for your child’s self-injury, but let them know you’re there for them, even though selfinjury is often a secretive behaviour and your child may be overwhelmed if they know you know about their self-harming.
Look at the cause not the injury
There will always be a reason behind self-harming behaviour, so instead of focusing on the injury, try to ascertain the underlying problems.
Don’t just tell them to stop
Instead of expecting your child to stop self-harming once you know about it, try to help them find alternative, healthier coping mechanisms. Also, offer to go with them to see a doctor or a counsellor.
“But don’t force them, and respect their need for privacy and confidentiality,” advises LifeSIGNS.
Don’t ask to see their injuries
Unless you’re concerned an injury may need medical attention, don’t ask to see you child’s injuries, says LifeSIGNS, as this could embarrass them and make them more secretive.
When to seek medical attention
LifeSIGNS says that while most scratches and cuts can be dealt with at home, burns may need to be checked by a doctor or nurse, as will more serious injuries and overdoses. And although self-injury is non-suicidal behaviour, the emotional distress that causes it can also lead to suicidal thoughts. If you feel your child is at risk, seek urgent medical help.