With overwhelming situations or feelings of anger and depression, some teens may carve, scratch or cut on their wrists, arms or other parts of the body. It seems irrational to others, but when people are depressed, it can seem like a way to let out the tension or pain.

The reasons for self-injury include feelings of desperation, anger or attention-seeking. It often happens when the person is feeling hopeless about the future and may be having suicidal thoughts.

• Get Help
• Helping a Friend

Get Help

Self-injury and self-mutilation are not appropriate coping behaviors. It is important to get help from a health care professional as soon as possible.

Sometimes self-injury is a way of asking for help so that others know how much the person is hurting. Other people may not be sensitive enough to notice, or the person may be trying to hide the evidence with long sleeves or tights. They may also be ashamed of their behavior. Deeper cuts can result in permanent damage and leave lasting scars. Often this happens when the teen feels it is too difficult to talk about his or her problems or that no one would understand.

It is important to find other ways to relieve the pain and learn how to talk about it.

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Helping a Friend

If you think a friend or loved one may be upset and hurting themselves, you can help (but not force) that person to find ways to deal with his or her emotions.

• In a gentle, caring way express your concern that he or she may be harming himself or herself.
  
• Explain that you may not understand all that is going on but you know as a friend, you cannot just stand by and watch it happen without encouraging him or her to get help.
  
• Have him or her agree to talk to a school counselor, teacher, family doctor or trusted adult he or she can confide in.
  
• Offer to go along with the friend and help him or her talk to the adult.
  
• If he or she refuses to get help, then you need to talk to a trusted adult about what you can do to help.

This is never easy, but you are doing the right thing by getting your friend help and keeping him or her safe. Do not keep this information to yourself. If he or she will not get help, tell someone who has the training to help (such as a school counselor).
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