When Lucy was 14, whenever she felt overwhelmed by pressure or despair, she didn't turn to parents, school counselors or friends - she turned to blades or bottles of pills. Now 21, Lucy admits making at least seven suicide attempts.

"That's an attitude that doesn't surprise Tillie Black Bear, chairman of the Rosebud Suicide Task Force. She is convinced that it exists to a greater extent than many people on her reservation are willing to believe."

Children who grow up on reservations often deal with levels of alcoholism, poverty, and gangs that most kids don't ever experience. This makes them far more vulnerable to depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts, experts say. Source: Argus Leader (Sioux Fall, MD)

Labels: cutting, drinking, suicide

In recent years, cutting has gained more attention as teachers, parents, and psychologists began to realize that this form of self-mutilation was more common than many had believed. They've also found that it affects a very different group of kids than many had believed.

"Recent research by Dr. Madeline Levine, an American psychologist, found that children from affluent homes... were three times more likely to suffer anxiety and depression than ordinary teenagers. Bullying and anxiety about academic performance are cited as common reasons and the stress may manifest itself in anorexia, bulimia - or, increasingly, self-harming."

In years past, self-harm often took the form of hair pulling or eating disorders. But now, teachers and parents are seeing more kids who cut. As a result of the new data, the medical community has recommended that additional studies be done to determine which treatments are the most effective. Education is also considered key; so that parents and teachers know how to respond and kids feel comfortable telling someone they need help.

Cutting and other risky behaviors, such as teen drug use, are often symptoms of greater issues. Island View, an adolescent residential treatment center in Utah, can help by assessing your child's needs and then creating a treatment plan.

Labels: affluence, cutting, self-harm

When Autumn Hayes was getting ready to start seventh grade, her family moved to a new town where she had to attend a new school and make new friends. The pressure was too much and, not knowing of any other way to cope, she began cutting herself. School officials became aware of her actions and sent her to a week of residential treatment.

"At the treatment center, Autumn learned other ways of coping with stress. She began keeping a journal and listening to music by rock bands such as Linkin Park and Panic! at the Disco instead of cutting."

When her dad was dying of prostate cancer, he made her promise that she'd never cut again. His voice still rings in her memory and reminds her to seek healthy coping mechanisms. Now Autumn hopes to get involved in support groups and help other teens who are grieving or cutting.

A good residential treatment center, like Island View in Utah, can help assess a troubled teens needs and then create a solid treatment plan. Learn more at IslandView-rtc.com.

Labels: cutting, stress, treatment_programs

A new study from Brown University found that 46% of teen report "self-injury." However, the study included not only cutting or burning oneself, but also getting a tattoo, pulling out hair, or picking at a sore until it bled.

Elizabeth Lloyd-Richardson and her colleagues surveyed 633 high school students. Those who admitted to self-injury said that they did it to feel in control, to stop bad feelings or to get someone's attention.

Other studies have indicated that about 20% of girls and 17% of boys self-injure. This new study appears in the August 2007 issue of Psychological Medicine.

ByParents-ForParents offer help for parents of troubled teens on a variety of topics ranging from dating, to cyberbullying, to cutting.

Labels: cutting, risky_behaviors, self-harm