Self Harm

1. Self Harm Education and Prevention

2. Self Harm Introduction Self Harm in the Elementary Schoool? Logistics

3. What is Self Harm? Why people self harm Most common ways • Self harm is a way of expressing and dealing with distress and emotional pain. • Some people use to control mood, communicate feelings, and self punishment. • Some people do for risk taking and fitting in. • Cutting • Burning • Banging head • Hitting or punching self • Scratching • Poisoning • Suffocation

4. Myths and Facts about Self Harm Myth: People who cut and self-injure are trying to get attention. Fact: The painful truth is that people who self-harm generally do so in secret. They aren’t trying to manipulate others or draw attention to themselves. In fact, shame and fear can make it very difficult to come forward and ask for help. Myth: People who self-injure are crazy and/or dangerous. Fact: It is true that many people who self-harm suffer from anxiety, depression, or a previous trauma—just like millions of others in the general population. Self-injury is how they cope. Slapping them with a “crazy” or “dangerous” label isn’t accurate or helpful.

5. Myths and facts about Self Harm Myth: People who self-injure want to die. Fact: Self-injurers usually do not want to die. When they self-harm, they are not trying to kill themselves—they are trying to cope with their pain. In fact, self-injury may be a way of helping themselves go on living. However, in the long-term, people who self-injure have a much higher risk of suicide, which is why it’s so important to seek help. Myth: If the wounds aren’t bad, it’s not that serious.Fact: The severity of a person’s wounds has very little to do with how much he or she may be suffering. Don’t assume that because the wounds or injuries are minor, there’s nothing to worry about.

6. Why is Self Harm Dangerous? Self Harm is a risk factor in subsequent attempted suicide. People who engage is self harm are 100 times more likely to attempt suicide. Often times, people don’t mean to commit suicide however they can cut too deep. In 40 to 60% of suicide, people were engaging in self harm. Self harm is repetitive. Infection is another risk factor

7. Help for self harm • Confide in a trusted adult • Parent, teacher, school counselor, grandparent, aunt, doctor. • Focus on your feelings that lead to self harm. This will help the adults understand how to help. • Ask for professional help • Some adults will know to ask for professional help. Those that don’t know…ask. • Therapists are the only trained professionals that know how to help stop self harm and make you feel better.

8. How Professionals Can Help • Learn to manage overwhelming stress and emotions • Learn other ways to meet your emotional needs • Identify your triggers • What makes you feel want to self harm: anger, sadness, loneliness, shame. • Address underlying problems • Many people who self harm have other problems that lead them to this behavior. A professional will help alleviate these problems so you can live a happy life without self harming.

9. Find new coping techniques • If you cut to express pain and intense emotions • Paint, draw, or scribble on a big piece of paper with red ink or paint • Express your feelings in a journal • Compose a poem or song to say what you feel • Write down any negative feelings and then rip the paper up • Listen to music that expresses what you’re feeling • If you cut to calm and soothe yourself • Take a bath or hot shower • Pet or cuddle with a dog or cat • Wrap yourself in a warm blanket • Massage your neck, hands, and feet • Listen to calming music

10. Find new coping techniques • If you cut because you feel disconnected and numb • Call a friend (you don’t have to talk about self-harm) • Take a cold shower • Hold an ice cube in the crook of your arm or leg • Chew something with a very strong taste, like chili peppers, peppermint, or a grapefruit peel. • Go online to a self-help website, chat room, or message board • If you cut to release tension or vent anger • Exercise vigorously—run, dance, jump rope, or hit a punching bag • Punch a cushion or mattress or scream into your pillow • Squeeze a stress ball or squish Play-Doh or clay • Rip something up (sheets of paper, a magazine) • Make some noise (play an instrument, bang on pots and pans)

11. Warning signs that a friend is self harming Unexplained scars or wounds The use of sharp objects or weapons Frequent accidents Covering scars with hoddies, long sleeves, and pants. Wanting to be alone for long periods of time Easily angered or emotional

12. How to help a friend that is Self Harming Tell a trusted adult! Don’t judge-avoid mean comments, they will only make things worse. They already feel bad about themselves Offer support-express your care and concern for them, let them know that you are available to talk Deal with your own feelings-If you feel shocked, confused, or scared talk to an adult about your feelings.