How do I support my child or teen that self harms?

Watching you child or teen in that much distress is heart breaking for any parent. Our first instinct is to protect and remove and ' tools' that make self harm possible. This isn't always helpful sadly. Talk to your child/teen do they know why they self harm? Do they know why it ' helps' them? Actively listening and focusing on their feelings not your own will help them feel supported not judged. Do they want to see a Dr or therapist? Give them as much love and trust as you can while keeping them as safe as you can. It is their way of coping right now and not an indicator of suicide reach out to others and educate yourself about self harm - you are doing an amazing job

There must be a reason why your child is doing so. It is good if you can bring your child to get some help like therapy or counseling to solve the issue.

Let them know that you understand they're suffering, and don't ever make fun of them. Self harm is serious as you may know. Seek for professional help, a therapist they can talk to, and introduce them to new solutions to cope with their feelings that aren't bad for their physical and mental health.

#1 thing I can say is to not freak out or panic or otherwise make a big deal of it. While self harm is a serious deal, it needs to be dealt with in a calm and loving way. Asking your child how the feel before and after they self harm can help you both to figure out what some triggers for it are. Therapy is often a good option for many young people as well. Best of luck. ❤️

Self-harm could suggest depression. It might be helpful to find a professional counselor and discuss the situation with them.