Self-injury, hurting yourself on purpose, is a sign of emotional distress and should be taken seriously.  Parents are encouraged to seek professional help for children who are self-injuring.  The resources below are options to use in conjunction with counseling or while waiting to be seen by a professional. Contact your child's counselor with questions.

What is self-injury? A deliberate act to injure the body as a way of coping with emotional distress or discomfort.

How are kids injuring? There are many ways to injure. Popular methods among kids are cutting, scratching, burning, hitting, or over medicating themselves.

Why do kids injure? To communicate emotional pain to others, to distract themselves from emotional distress, or to feel something when experiencing numbness or a disconnect.