What is self-harm?
Self-harm is the deliberate self-inflicted destruction of body tissue. It can occur with or without suicidal intentions. A commonly used term is ‘non-suicidal self-injury’ (NSSI), which refers to self-injury that is carried out without suicidal intent.
If my teen self-harms, does that mean they are suicidal?
It does not necessarily mean that your teen is suicidal if they self-harm. However every teen that self-harms should undergo a thorough suicide risk assessment. If your teen is self-harming, it is a sign that they are in distress.
What are self-harming behaviors?
Some self-harming behaviors include; cutting, burning, scratching, pinching, biting and hitting. Teens may also take minor overdoses of easily accessibly medications.
If your teen is self-harming, or you suspect that they are, seek professional help as soon as possible. Please contact Promises Healthcare for a confidential enquiry.
If your teen is in any danger, you can contact your local ambulance service on 995. You can contact the Institute for Mental Health 24-hour hotline on 6389-2222.
This is part 1, of a series of 3 posts
Written by: Leeran Gold – Psychologist, Forensic Services, Promises Healthcare