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Self-harm in children and teens: OverviewSSelf-harm in children and teens: OverviewSelf-harm in children and teens: OverviewEnglishPsychiatrySchool age child (5-8 years);Pre-teen (9-12 years);Teen (13-18 years)BodyNAConditions and diseasesCaregivers Adult (19+)NA2016-02-10T05:00:00Z9.1000000000000056.9000000000000626.000000000000Health (A-Z) - ConditionsHealth A-Z<p>A child or teen may turn to self-harm as a way to relieve emotional pain. Find out about the main causes and coping methods.</p><h2>What is self-harm?</h2><p>Self-harm can include cutting, burning or hitting oneself. Children and teens who self-harm may be trying to relieve emotional pain or suffering or create a physical wound to represent their emotional suffering.</p><h2>If my child self-harms, does it mean they are suicidal?</h2><p>No, self-harm is not always associated with <a href="/Article?contentid=291&language=English">suicidal thoughts</a>.</p><h2>Key points</h2> <ul> <li>Self-harm can include cutting, burning or hitting oneself to relieve emotional pain. Not everyone who self-harms has thoughts of suicide.</li> <li>Stressful life events and existing mental health conditions, such as depression or anxiety, are the main causes of self-harming​ thoughts and behaviour.</li> <li>If you learn that your child is harming themselves, talk to them about any stressful events and their impact on them.</li> <li>Someone who engages in self-harm may benefit from safer coping strategies such as using ice cubes or icepacks on the skin, flicking an elastic band on the wrist or doing high intensity exercise.</li> </ul><h2>What causes self-harming thoughts and behaviour?</h2><p>Self-harming thoughts and behaviour can have a wide range of causes. These can include stressful life events and existing mental health conditions.</p><h3>Stressful life events</h3><p>Stressful events may lead a child or teen to feel overwhelmed or trapped in a situation. They might include, for example, a relationship break-up, conflict with family or friends, bullying (online or face-to-face), failing a test or experiencing a loss such as a death or the divorce of parents.</p><h3>Mental health conditions</h3><p>A number of mental health conditions can increase a teen's risk for self-harm. These include:</p><ul><li><a href="/Article?contentid=19&language=English">depression</a></li><li> <a href="/Article?contentid=18&language=English">anxiety disorders</a></li><li>substance use disorders</li><li>some personality disorders (such as borderline personality disorder)</li><li><a href="/Article?contentid=1922&language=English">attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)</a></li><li><a href="/Article?contentid=1927&language=English">post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)</a></li><li>eating disorders such as <a href="/Article?contentid=268&language=English">anorexia</a>, <a href="/Article?contentid=282&language=English">bulimia</a> and <a href="/Article?contentid=277&language=English">binge eating disorder</a></li><li><a href="/Article?contentid=279&language=English">bipolar disorder</a></li><li>schizophrenia</li></ul><h2>When to seek medical help for self-harm</h2> <p>Once you learn that your child is self-harming, speak to your family doctor or paediatrician, as the behaviour may be a symptom of an underlying mental health condition.</p><h2>Further information</h2><p>For more information on protecting your child or teen from suicide or self-harm, please see the following pages:</p><p> <a href="/Article?contentid=291&language=English">Suicide in children and teens: Overview</a></p><p> <a href="/Article?contentid=290&language=English">Suicide risk: Signs and symptoms</a></p><p> <a href="/Article?contentid=293&language=English">Suicide and self-harm: How to talk to your child about their emotions</a></p><p> <a href="/Article?contentid=292&language=English">Suicide and self-harm: How to protect your child</a><br></p><p>Please visit our teen mental health website for information on <a href="https://teens.aboutkidshealth.ca/Article?contentid=3834&language=English&hub=mentalhealthAZ#mentalhealth">suicide and self-harm</a>.<br></p><h2>Resources<br></h2><p>In Canada, children and teens in distress can contact KidsHelpPhone on <a href="http://www.kidshelpphone.ca/" target="_blank">KidsHelpPhone.ca</a> or call 1-800-688-6868.</p><p><a href="https://kidshelpphone.ca/get-info/how-do-i-talk-to-the-young-person-in-my-life-about-suicide/">How do I talk to the young person in my life about suicide?</a></p>
L’automutilation chez les enfants et les adolescents: présentation généraleLL’automutilation chez les enfants et les adolescents: présentation généraleSelf-harm in children and teens: OverviewFrenchPsychiatrySchool age child (5-8 years);Pre-teen (9-12 years);Teen (13-18 years)BodyNAConditions and diseasesCaregivers Adult (19+)NA2016-02-10T05:00:00Z000Health (A-Z) - ConditionsHealth A-Z<p>Un enfant ou un adolescent peut se tourner vers l’automutilation pour soulager la douleur affective. Découvrez des stratégies de contrôle. </p>​​<h2>Qu’est-ce que l’automutilation?</h2> <p>L’automutilation peut signifier se brûler, se couper ou se frapper volontairement. Les enfants et les adolescents qui s’automutilent essaient peut-être de soulager les douleurs ou souffrances affectives ou de donner corps à leur souffrance affective par une blessure physique.</p> <h2>Si mon enfant s’automutile, cela veut-il dire qu’il est suicidaire?</h2> <p>Non, l’automutilation n’est pas toujours liée aux <a href="/Article?contentid=291&language=French">pensées suicidaires</a>.</p><h2>À retenir</h2> <ul> <li>L’automutilation peut signifier se brûler, se couper ou se frapper volontairement pour soulager une souffrance affective. Les jeunes qui pratiquent l’automutilation n’ont pas tous des pensées suicidaires.</li> <li>Les événements stressants de la vie et les troubles de santé mentale qui existent déjà, comme la dépression ou l’anxiété, sont les principales causes du désir et des comportements d’automutilation.</li> <li>Si vous apprenez que votre enfant s’automutile, parlez-lui de ces événements stressants et des effets qu'ils ont sur lui.</li> <li>Quelqu’un qui pratique l’automutilation peut recourir à des stratégies de contrôle comme se frotter la peau avec des glaçons, claquer une bande élastique sur le poignet ou faire de l’exercice intensif.</li> </ul><h2>Quelles sont les causes du désir et des comportements d’automutilation?</h2> <p>Le désir et les comportements d’automutilation peuvent avoir de nombreuses causes, comme les événements stressants de la vie et des problèmes de santé mentale qui existent déjà.</p> <h3>Les événements stressants de la vie</h3> <p>Les événements stressants peuvent conduire un enfant ou un adolescent à se sentir dépassé ou pris au piège par la situation. Dans les exemples d’événements stressants, on peut citer la rupture d’une relation, un conflit avec la famille ou des amis, de l’intimidation (en ligne et en personne), l’échec à un examen ou une perte comme un décès ou le divorce des parents.</p> <h3>Les troubles de santé mentale</h3> <p>Un certain nombre de troubles de santé mentale peuvent accroître le risque d’automutilation d’un adolescent. Ils comprennent:</p> <ul> <li><a href="/Article?contentid=19&language=French">la dépression</a>,</li> <li><a href="/Article?contentid=18&language=French">les troubles anxieux</a>,</li> <li>les troubles liés à la toxicomanie,</li> <li>certains troubles de la personnalité (tels que le trouble de la personnalité limite),</li> <li><a href="/Article?contentid=1922&language=French">le trouble déficitaire de l’attention avec hyperactivité (TDAH)</a>,</li> <li><a href="/Article?contentid=1927&language=French">le syndrome de stress post-traumatique (SPT)</a>,</li> <li>les troubles de l’alimentation comme <a href="/Article?contentid=268&language=French">l’anorexie</a>, <a href="/Article?contentid=282&language=French">boulimie</a> et <a href="/Article?contentid=277&language=French">l’hyperphagie boulimique</a>,</li> <li><a href="/Article?contentid=279&language=French">les troubles bipolaires</a>,</li> <li>la schizophrénie.</li> </ul><h2>Quand solliciter l’aide d’un médecin en cas d’automutilation</h2> <p>Dès que vous apprenez que votre enfant s’automutile, parlez-en à votre médecin de famille ou à votre pédiatre, car ce comportement peut être un symptôme d’un trouble de santé mentale latent.</p>

 

 

 

 

Self-harm in children and teens: Overview289.000000000000Self-harm in children and teens: OverviewSelf-harm in children and teens: OverviewSEnglishPsychiatrySchool age child (5-8 years);Pre-teen (9-12 years);Teen (13-18 years)BodyNAConditions and diseasesCaregivers Adult (19+)NA2016-02-10T05:00:00Z9.1000000000000056.9000000000000626.000000000000Health (A-Z) - ConditionsHealth A-Z<p>A child or teen may turn to self-harm as a way to relieve emotional pain. Find out about the main causes and coping methods.</p><h2>What is self-harm?</h2><p>Self-harm can include cutting, burning or hitting oneself. Children and teens who self-harm may be trying to relieve emotional pain or suffering or create a physical wound to represent their emotional suffering.</p><h2>If my child self-harms, does it mean they are suicidal?</h2><p>No, self-harm is not always associated with <a href="/Article?contentid=291&language=English">suicidal thoughts</a>.</p><h2>Key points</h2> <ul> <li>Self-harm can include cutting, burning or hitting oneself to relieve emotional pain. Not everyone who self-harms has thoughts of suicide.</li> <li>Stressful life events and existing mental health conditions, such as depression or anxiety, are the main causes of self-harming​ thoughts and behaviour.</li> <li>If you learn that your child is harming themselves, talk to them about any stressful events and their impact on them.</li> <li>Someone who engages in self-harm may benefit from safer coping strategies such as using ice cubes or icepacks on the skin, flicking an elastic band on the wrist or doing high intensity exercise.</li> </ul><h2>What causes self-harming thoughts and behaviour?</h2><p>Self-harming thoughts and behaviour can have a wide range of causes. These can include stressful life events and existing mental health conditions.</p><h3>Stressful life events</h3><p>Stressful events may lead a child or teen to feel overwhelmed or trapped in a situation. They might include, for example, a relationship break-up, conflict with family or friends, bullying (online or face-to-face), failing a test or experiencing a loss such as a death or the divorce of parents.</p><h3>Mental health conditions</h3><p>A number of mental health conditions can increase a teen's risk for self-harm. These include:</p><ul><li><a href="/Article?contentid=19&language=English">depression</a></li><li> <a href="/Article?contentid=18&language=English">anxiety disorders</a></li><li>substance use disorders</li><li>some personality disorders (such as borderline personality disorder)</li><li><a href="/Article?contentid=1922&language=English">attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)</a></li><li><a href="/Article?contentid=1927&language=English">post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)</a></li><li>eating disorders such as <a href="/Article?contentid=268&language=English">anorexia</a>, <a href="/Article?contentid=282&language=English">bulimia</a> and <a href="/Article?contentid=277&language=English">binge eating disorder</a></li><li><a href="/Article?contentid=279&language=English">bipolar disorder</a></li><li>schizophrenia</li></ul><h2>What can I do if my child is self-harming?</h2><p>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.</p><p>It is also important to find out if your child also has any thoughts of suicide.</p><h2>How can my child cope with the urge to self-harm?</h2><p>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:</p><ul><li>flicking an elastic band against the wrist</li><li>using ice cubes on the skin or ice packs against the temples for one or two minutes</li><li>using deep breathing​ or progressive muscle relaxation</li><li>getting a brief amount of high intensity exercise — even 10 to 20 minutes can help</li></ul><p>Other strategies can include self-soothing through the five senses, for example:</p><ul><li>looking at pleasant images or watching a relaxing video</li><li>listening to relaxing music or nature sounds</li><li>eating a favourite food for a meal or snack</li><li>wrapping themselves in a soft blanket or taking a bath</li><li>smelling pleasant scents such as scented candles, creams or balms.</li></ul><h2>When to seek medical help for self-harm</h2> <p>Once you learn that your child is self-harming, speak to your family doctor or paediatrician, as the behaviour may be a symptom of an underlying mental health condition.</p><h2>Further information</h2><p>For more information on protecting your child or teen from suicide or self-harm, please see the following pages:</p><p> <a href="/Article?contentid=291&language=English">Suicide in children and teens: Overview</a></p><p> <a href="/Article?contentid=290&language=English">Suicide risk: Signs and symptoms</a></p><p> <a href="/Article?contentid=293&language=English">Suicide and self-harm: How to talk to your child about their emotions</a></p><p> <a href="/Article?contentid=292&language=English">Suicide and self-harm: How to protect your child</a><br></p><p>Please visit our teen mental health website for information on <a href="https://teens.aboutkidshealth.ca/Article?contentid=3834&language=English&hub=mentalhealthAZ#mentalhealth">suicide and self-harm</a>.<br></p><h2>Resources<br></h2><p>In Canada, children and teens in distress can contact KidsHelpPhone on <a href="http://www.kidshelpphone.ca/" target="_blank">KidsHelpPhone.ca</a> or call 1-800-688-6868.</p><p><a href="https://kidshelpphone.ca/get-info/how-do-i-talk-to-the-young-person-in-my-life-about-suicide/">How do I talk to the young person in my life about suicide?</a></p><img alt="" src="https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/AKHAssets/self_harm_overview.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" />https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/AKHAssets/self_harm_overview.jpgSelf-harm in children and teens: OverviewFalse

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