Every year, one in five female teens and one in seven male teens report that they have engaged in some form of self-injury behavior. Parent concern over this growing phenomenon is worth a parent’s time and effort to become educated on this scary topic and become aware of resources and strategies that reduce teen self-injury behavior.
Did you know that 50% of all cutters (and other self-injury behavior) begin at the age of 14. Many cutters do not begin to take steps to stop their self-injury actions until they are well into their 20′s!
Five Steps Parents Can Take To Help Their Child Stop Cutting
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Seek professional help from your child’s medical doctor.
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Encourage your child to talk out a problem, fear or concern with you or another adult instead of cutting.
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Seek assistance from your child’s school counselor or school psychologist. These professionals are very well aware of teen cutting and self-injury behaviors.
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Avoid becoming judgmental and shaming. Children who cut are often trying to stop emotional pain by committing bodily harm. Avoid putting your child, or yourself on “the guilt trip.”
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Encourage your child to agree to go on a contract to tell you, a school counselor, or another trusted adult that she has a desire to cut before the cutting behavior begins. Replace the cutting with a walk and talk session, exercise or reading a book.
