Is Self-Harm Becoming A National Crisis Among Teenagers?
September 11, 2008 9:37 am Crises, Depression, Miscellaneous, Suicide
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 Recently a teenage boy who jumped out of a dorm window while drunk left a local college campus and community deeply shaken. He will probably be paralyzed for the rest of his life. After hearing about this I read a distressing study about teenage self-destructive behavior. The Child and Adolescent Self harm Study From Europe (Brunel University September 4, 2008) reveals more disturbing data about teenagers and cutting.
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1.   One out of four cases is not reported and 25% had not told anyone else. How many do we not know about?
2.   Alcohol is a factor in one out of five cases, drugs in one out of eight cases.
3.   Six in ten self-harmers talk of suicide.
4.   Thoughts of self-harm are said to occur in 6 out of every 10 teenage girls and 1 in 10 boys.
5.   59% of these teenagers said they wanted to die.
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How To Help
 Recognize those at risk
1.   Those with family history of suicide or self injury or risky behaviors
2.   Those who have been sexually, physically or emotionally abused.
3.   Those who are self critical, with low self esteem, depression anxiety, substance abuse problems and eating disorders.
 4.   Teenagers who are impulsive with few problem-solving skills are at higher risk. Â
 Prevention Involves Teachers, Families, Friends And Other Social Supports
- Â Teach coping skills in school and at home
- Â Encourage healthy social networks.
- Â Educate teenagers and adults about the problem.
-  Promote programs to help teenagers develop healthy friendships and decrease secrecy.
- Do not expect more from teenagers then they can do. Remember they are not always sufficiently mature enough to make high level decisions that require recognition of long term consequences.
 References:
Mayo Clinic Website: Self-injury
 Science Daily: September 7, 2008
sarah :
Date: September 13, 2008 @ 4:14 am
all i can say is that pic of the blade i want it ….sounds stupid but i want it:S
sarah :
Date: September 13, 2008 @ 4:17 am
lemme change that ill explain more
my names is sarah im 16 i was diganosed with depression last year and hate livin with it i have been a self harmer for the last 4 years and the slighest things can trigger me to want to cut its like a addiction after a while but my reasons for self harming have allways been because of issues within the family and myself