Guide published for parents whose children self harm

At least one in 10 young people self-harm and very little help is available to their families, according to new research by Oxford University.

A team from the university’s Centre for Suicide Research has launched a guide for parents and carers trying to cope with adolescent self harm.

Researchers say 10 to 15 per cent of adolsecents in the UK harm themselves either through self injury or self-poisoning and that their parents and families often feel alone and isolated.

“They often do it to deal with bad feelings, feelings of depression, anger, dislike of themselves,” said professor of psychiatry Keith Hawton. “It may be done to show other people how bad the person is feeling or to get a sense of control over the person’s life. It may be done for reducing tension. Sadly, it can be a suicidal act and the person actually wants to die.”

The team said parents of children who self harmed often did not know where to turn for help and support. So they developed a guide with information on topics such as understanding self-harm, managing injuries, sources of help and looking after parents’ own needs.

“We developed the guide based on current research on self-harm and on the interviews with parents. It contains quotes from them with advice for other parents as well as evidence-based information and links to sources of help,” said research coordinator Dr Anne Ferrey.

Prof Hawton added: “We know that most young people will stop self-harming, perhaps in a few weeks, a few months and sometimes a few years. In a minority it will become part of a longer-term pattern of behaviour, and for some it may indicate longer-term emotional problems, but for the vast majority, self-harm will stop.”