Deliberate Self Harm
First of all, don’t panic! Self harm is surprisingly common and takes many forms. It is always very concerning and can even feel traumatic for a parent to discover their child is self harming, but perhaps the best approach is to view this discovery as the first step to a positive resolution. Good communication is key to this, and being judgemental usually creates barriers. Be calm, and see it as a form of communication/expression. Better communication can be achieved by good listening and better understanding. Self harm describes a wide range of behaviours that people do to themselves in a deliberate and usually hidden way. The aim is not to kill themselves but to help them feel better. In a vast majority of cases self harm remains a secretive behaviour that can go on for a long time without being discovered. Why do young people self harm?
- Interpersonal factors – difficult relationships at home and/or school, low self esteem, communication difficulties, difficulty in verbalising feelings.
- Individual factors – issues such as depression, eating and sleep disturbance, impulsiveness, physical illness and disability
- Family factors – relationships and breakdown, poor role models, failure to provide support, care, excessive pressure.