The post Self-Harm Awareness Month: Here’s How We Can Protect Our Youth appeared first on MINES and Associates.
]]>Today, we’re spreading awareness about self-harm, including the causes, warning signs, and tips to help a young person you love.
Self-harm is when someone intentionally hurts themselves physically. The clinical name for self-harm is non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). Not every incident of someone hurting themselves falls under the umbrella of NSSI; some people hurt themselves because they are suicidal. Non-suicidal self-injury describes when someone hurts themselves
The most well-known method of non-suicidal self-injury is cutting, or when people make shallow cuts on their skin. But cutting is far from the only method; others harm themselves by:
Young people – children, adolescents, and young adults – are at the highest risk of self-harm. Research shows that over 25% of teens aged 12 to 16 had thoughts of self-harm, with at least 15% acting on these thoughts. Unfortunately, studies have shown that self-harm rates among youth increase each year, with self-harm rates among girls increasing at an especially alarming rate.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that anyone can self-harm, including boys and older adults.
Self-harm is highly misunderstood; many people mistake self-harm as a form of suicidal behavior. However, self-harm, at least behaviors that fall within the umbrella of non-suicidal self-injury, is not an attempt to end one’s life.
People self-harm for various reasons. Some of the most common reasons include:
Some people don’t know why, exactly, they self-harm. This is normal.
Even though self-harm itself isn’t a suicidal behavior, research shows that teens who have self-harmed are over 3 times more likely to attempt suicide in the future than those who have never self-harmed. Young people also often accidentally put themselves in life-threatening situations while self-harming (for example, by cutting themselves deeper than they intended). Self-harm is a sign that someone is in severe emotional distress, and needs to be taken seriously.
One of the first steps to helping someone who self-harms is to notice the signs. When you educate yourself on the warning signs of self-harm, you’re more likely to realize when a loved one is engaging in it.
Self-harm doesn’t have a “look,” just like depression or anxiety don’t have looks. People of any gender or age can self-harm, but young people are at higher risk.
Here are some warning signs of self-harm in teens to look out for:
If a young person you love is showing these signs, then it could be that they’re self-harming – and need your support.
It can be unfathomable and intensely painful to learn that someone you love, especially a teen or a young adult, is hurting themselves intentionally. It’s devastating to realize that they don’t see themselves as you see them, and you wish you could do something to help them love themselves.
Recovery from self-harm can be a long journey. It becomes an addiction in many ways; it brings temporary relief from emotional pain, and even though the person knows that it’s not a long-term solution, it may be difficult to stop.
But just because they can’t quit right away doesn’t mean that you can’t do anything to support them. A trusted adult’s support is essential for young people as they learn to love themselves and treat themselves with care.
Here are some ways you can support the young person in your life who is self-harming.
There is hope. With support from a trusted adult, young people can successfully stop self-harming and learn to love themselves.
If you struggle with self-harm, here are some resources that can help.
If you (or someone else) are having a mental health emergency, dial 988.
MINES & Associates EAP is available to employees as well as their household members. All family members can receive 24/7 confidential counseling support for issues like depression, stress, and more. In addition, we provide 4 parental coaching sessions per year to teach you how to better support your teen or young adult who may be self-harming.
Take advantage of this free resource and get in touch with us today.
To Your Wellbeing,
The MINES Team
The post Self-Harm Awareness Month: Here’s How We Can Protect Our Youth appeared first on MINES and Associates.
]]>