Is your adolescent child involved in some form of self-harm? If so, you have good cause for concern. That’s true because adolescent self-harm can be a warning sign for several types of mental illness. It’s also true because teens who harm themselves sometimes have increased risks for suicide. Resources such as the Suicide and Crisis LIfeline are available 24/7 by dialing 988. However, there are things you can do to help a child who self-harms. For example, you can enroll them in a professional treatment facility that offers evidence-based treatments such as dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) or cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), focusing on children, teens, and adolescents.
HillsidesCares can offer help to your self-harming teen. Talk to our adolescent treatment specialists today. We feature therapeutic approaches specifically designed for teenagers. With help from our professional and compassionate team, your child can break the cycle of self-harm. Call us at 323.641.4842 to find out more.
What Is Self-Harm and Why Do Teens Do It?
What is self-harm? The term describes any form of purposeful self-injury that’s not part of a suicide attempt. Another term, non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), is also sometimes used. The most well-known form of adolescent self-harm is the cutting of skin on locations such as the arms, stomach, legs, or wrists. However, a self-harming teen may also do any of the following:
- Scratch their skin until they draw blood
- Pull their hair out
- Burn their skin
- Bang their heads against hard surfaces
- Punch themselves
- Attempt to break a bone
Some teens only self-harm once. However, others harm themselves repeatedly.
Why do teenagers engage in self-harm? There is more than one potential answer to this question. Some affected teens feel lonely or emotionally numb. Others are in extreme emotional pain. Still, others feel overwhelmed by daily life or have a deep sense of worthlessness.
What Are the Risks of Adolescent Self-Harm?
What are the risks associated with teen self-harm? In some cases, the behavior may point to the presence of underlying mental health issues such as:
- Depression
- An eating disorder
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- An anxiety disorder
- Drug or alcohol problems
- A personality disorder
The potential for increased suicide risks must also be considered. Most teens who harm themselves do not have any issues with suicidal thinking or behavior. Instead, self-injury serves as a kind of relief valve for pent-up or unmanageable feelings.
However, the situation can change if your child self-harms repeatedly. In these circumstances, the risk of suicide can rise over time. That’s true because recurring self-harm is statistically linked to both suicidal thinking and actual suicide attempts.
How an Adolescent Self-Harm Treatment Center Can Help
An adolescent self-harm treatment center can help your child escape a cycle of self-injury. How? By using therapies known to have a benefit for affected teenagers. An example of some of the effective therapies employed by professional treatment centers are dialectical behavior therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy.
- In dialectical behavior therapy, your child learns how to better understand the complex feelings that prompt self-harm. In addition, they learn how to accept those feelings for what they are. Crucially, they also learn how to process their feelings without resorting to self-harm. Research shows that self-harm treatment centers that use DBT can not only help reduce participation in self-injury, but they can also help reduce your child’s involvement in suicidal thinking.
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy is another effective approach used to help teenagers who engage in self-harm. CBT works by helping teens identify and change the negative thought patterns and beliefs that lead to self-injurious behaviors. Through structured sessions with a trained therapist, adolescents learn to recognize the relationship between their thoughts, emotions, and actions. By developing healthier coping strategies and problem-solving skills, CBT equips teens with the tools they need to manage their emotions more effectively without resorting to self-harm.
Effective evidence-based therapies from trained professionals can help shift your child’s perspective, which can help reduce both the frequency and intensity of self-harm incidents while also improving overall emotional and psychological well-being.
Seek Help for Adolescent Self-Harm Today at HillsidesCares
Parents are rightfully concerned when their teenagers engage in self-harm. This behavior isn’t always a sign of serious underlying mental health issues. However, it can be. What’s more, it can be a precursor to suicidal thinking and active suicide attempts. Fortunately, with help from targeted behavioral therapies and other treatment options, your child can reduce their exposure to self-harm and thoughts of suicide.
Are you looking for a self-harm treatment center for your affected teen? At HillsidesCares, we specialize in helping children, teens, and adolescents regain their sense of mental well-being. For more information on our customized residential and outpatient care services, call us today at 323.641.4842 or contact us online.