What can I do if my child is self-harming?
First, discuss what the self-harm means to your child and ask why they are engaging in it. Talking to your child about any stressful events and keeping your child safe lets your child know that you are interested and available to them for support when they need it.
It is also important to find out if your child also has any thoughts of suicide.
How can my child cope with the urge to self-harm?
A child or teen can learn a number of coping strategies to replace long-lasting self-harm behaviours but still relieve emotional pain. These include:
- flicking an elastic band against the wrist
- using ice cubes on the skin or ice packs against the temples for one or two minutes
- using deep breathing or progressive muscle relaxation
- getting a brief amount of high intensity exercise — even 10 to 20 minutes can help
Other strategies can include self-soothing through the five senses, for example:
- looking at pleasant images or watching a relaxing video
- listening to relaxing music or nature sounds
- eating a favourite food for a meal or snack
- wrapping themselves in a soft blanket or taking a bath
- smelling pleasant scents such as scented candles, creams or balms.
