New Study on Teens Who Self-Harm

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by FOX Charlotte

Story Created: Nov 21, 2011 at 11:57 PM EDT

Story Updated: Nov 21, 2011 at 11:57 PM EDT

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Faint white scars are what's left of Kaitlyn Kennedy's self-cutting.  She started at age 14 when her parents divorced. Three years later, she stopped because, "I felt stupid, I felt childish.  You know, I was graduating high school and it just seemed pointless."

A new study finds that 8% of teens self harm and that Kennedy's experience is not unusual.  Researchers followed more than 1,800 kids for 16 years.  They found that of the kids who self-harmed, most matured out of the behavior, typically without help from anyone else.

It's encouraging news for parents, who may not always know their child is self-harming.  "They'll do it on parts of their bodies that you can't see, often times the upper legs, the abdomen, it's actually more unusual for it to be lower in the arm where someone might see it," says Alexander Youth Network Clinical Director Dr. Dawn O'Malley.

The study also reveals that young people who self harm are nearly four times as likely to have depression or turn to drug use, so parents shouldn't ignore the behavior, especially as it grows in popularity.  "It's an old phenomenon  but I do think there's been an increase in that behavior because kids have access to more places to learn about it, like the Internet."  In fact, YouTube yields hundreds of videos of kids talking about self-harming.  

O'Malley says self-harming is a coping mechanism for stressed teens.  The cutting or burning actually creates a chemical reaction, which can make the behavior addictive.  She says, "The child will actually get a little burst of endorphins, like you get when you're running."

24-year-old Kennedy hopes teens learn to talk through their problems, instead, and has this message for them: "10 years from now, you're gonna look back and realize how pointless it was and that you're OK."

O'Malley tells parents that safety trumps privacy.  If you suspect your child is self-harming, look for pieces of broken glass, razor blades or matches.  Kids will often use things that won't be noticed as "missing," like a kitchen knife might.
 

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