Self-Harm Stigma 'Easing'

Young people are finding it easier to talk to their parents about self-harm, according to the NSPCC.

The charity's counsellors across the UK dealt with almost 4-thousand calls about the subject in 2013-14.

A poll's found more than half of 11-21 year-olds would turn to their mum or dad for support, even if they thought their parents wouldn't understand.

Among the findings: 

• Over half of 11-21 year olds would turn to their parents for information or help about self-harming.
• Just under 50% would look online
• A quarter would turn to a teacher
• A quarter would turn to a GP
• A fifth would turn to a friend
• 4 in 10 don’t know or don’t think their parents have a good understanding of what self harm is
• 44% of children and young people have self harmed or know someone who has
• Over a third of young people have seen an online image of self-harming and have shared an online image of self-harming

ChildLine Scotland area manager Elaine Chalmers said: “We all have a responsibility to keep children and young people safe and we know that talking can make an enormous difference to someone who is thinking about self-harming.

“There are many reasons why young people might self-harm. It’s a way of dealing with overwhelming feelings that can feel very difficult to cope with and young people tell us that physical pain helps them cope with the emotional pain.

“It is really encouraging that parents would be the first place children would turn to for support with this difficult issue. If a parent does have concerns that their child is self-harming, then it is really important to talk about it with them.”