Page 13 - Resource-PartB_v3

Understanding Children and Young People’s Mental Health

Case Study: Self-harm

‘E was a happy child at junior school, then struggled to transition
well to secondary school. They’d done well academically, were on
the gifted and talented programme for English and in general, was
a compliant, happy child. Or so we thought, until one day, a parent
rang to tell me they spotted blood through my child’s school shirt
in passing on the way to school.’
‘My husband and I chatted it through and decided to gently open
up the conversation, which was painful for us all. What transpired
that evening hit me like a brick. It became apparent my child was
covered (and I mean covered – upper arms, tummy, legs) in scars
and words they had etched into themselves about how they felt
about themselves.’

‘Self-harm is isolating. For the young person – who self-harms
because verbalising their fears and struggles is too hard, picking
up an object to cut or taking medication so they sleep all day and
all night is easier in comparison to attempt to talk a language of
emotion (which might as well be Russian to them). Friends keep
away, what 12 year old knows what to say? Who wants to be
associated with the ‘weird kid’?’

‘Self-harm isolates the family. Life doesn’t continue as normal.
Fear, vulnerability, distrust, anxiety come into your home. Friends
stay away – why would they want to see your child and then have
to explain about self-harm to theirs?’

Source: www.selfharm.co.uk/parents/articles/one-familys-story-
of-self-harm

Feeling angry and helpless can lead young people to adopt risky behaviours, such as
drinking too much or becoming involved in other substance misuse. Refusing to go
to school leads to further problems with achievement and can damage the person’s
future prospects.

Eating disorders can be a response to worry and stress, and to life feeling out of
control in other ways. Eating disorders can result in a person having such serious
health problems that their lives can be placed at risk.

Suicidal feelings can arise when there seems to be no solution to the problems faced
by the young person, and these feelings are surprisingly common.

11