March is Self-Harm Awareness Month, Health Experts Encourage Parents to Learn the Signs of self-harm in young people

If the child you love is hurting so badly they’re harming themselves, you probably feel the pain, too.

Parents and caregivers may feel confused, angry and helpless when they see signs that their child or teen is engaging in self-harm. They realize their child needs immediate help, but many have no idea where to begin.

March is Self-Harm Awareness Month, and this spring break season the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) wants parents, caregivers, and those who work with young people to know that self-harm among those ages 10-19 typically increases following a return from school breaks and in the final weeks of the school year. Data on adolescent self-harm visits to Wisconsin emergency departments (ED) showed a nearly 10% increase in May 2023 compared to the previous month, and a 24% increase in adolescent visits in April 2024 compared to the month prior.

Self-harm refers to intentional actions taken to hurt oneself. It may be done as a coping strategy in response to stress, anxiety, or other emotional and/or mental health concerns. While someone who self-harms may or may not have the intention to die by suicide, self-harm may put a person at greater risk for repeated self-harm, suicide attempt, or death by suicide.

Alongside communitywide efforts, DHS encourages parents, caregivers, and community service providers to support youth by recognizing the signs that may lead to self-harm and encouraging open, honest, and judgement-free conversations about mental health.

Signs that a young person may be self-harming include:

• Increased secrecy.
• Emotional withdrawal or changes in mood and behavior.
• Reduced time with peers or family members.
• Unexplained cuts, burns, or bruises, typically on the arms, legs, and stomach.
• Finding razors, sharps, knives, or other items that may be used to self-injure.
• Keeping arms and legs covered even when it is inconvenient to do so.

Parents, caregivers, guardians, and others looking to help a young person who is self-harming should take the following actions:

• Learn more about self-harm and find self-harm resources to support you and your child.
• Address the problem head on. Do not ignore the problem or treat it like a passing fad.
• Listen without judgement and without trying to problem solve or put things in a more positive light. They should instead focus on confirming what they are hearing young people say.
• Recognize when professional help is needed. Find information about the signs of a mental health crisis, including when to seek immediate help on the Crisis Services: Identifying a Crisis page.

“A return from break and the sprint to the end of the school year can bring uncertainty and stress for young people, and statewide data continue to point to a concerning trend that too many young people are turning to self-harm,” said State Health Officer Paula Tran. “We need to do all we can to ensure all Wisconsin youth are surrounded by safe, stable, and nurturing environments. At DHS, we are using data to inform our work to increase support for the mental and emotional health of youth. This includes helping communities prevent self-harm. We need to ensure that caregivers, educators, and loved ones understand how to support youth at risk for self-harm and that all Wisconsin youth are equipped with healthy coping skills that help them manage stress and improve their mental health.”

More reading: Suicide Prevention: Strategies

More reading: Self-harm resources for caregivers

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