Did you know that self-harm treatment programs exist? If your teen engages in cutting or other types of self-harm, there’s formal treatment that can help keep them safe and help them break free from their potentially dangerous behaviors. These programs can also help treat your teen’s co-occurring mental issues, such as anxiety, depression, or mood disorders, as they help to rectify your teen’s negative beliefs and behaviors. If you’re looking for a teen boys self-harm treatment program in North Carolina, contact Foothills at Red Oak Recovery today. Call 866.300.5275 or reach out to our team online.

March Is Self-Harm Awareness Month

In March, Self-Harm Awareness Month is observed every year by Canada, the United States, and Western Europe. There are two million cases of self-harm reported annually in the United States, most of them involving young people.

Each March, self-harm awareness gets a boost. More people learn that self-harm happens across all ages, beliefs, genders, and races. It’s also recognized that most self-harm starts in adolescence, typically around age 14. Common situations, such as self-harm being taken less seriously among boys and girls who self-injure being called out as attention seekers, also get addressed.

What You Should Know About Self-Harm

There are several things about self-harm that we need to address during Self-Harm Awareness Month. These facts help parents understand their teen’s behavior and the importance of getting help.

1. Self-Harm Is Not Done to Get Attention

This is the beginning of self-harm awareness. Whether they’re boys or girls, teens who self-harm don’t do so to be dramatic or get more attention. People who hurt themselves often try to hide these problematic behaviors because they’re ashamed of them.

2. Teens Often Engage in Self-Harm to Relieve Stress or Discomfort

Studies show that people who hurt themselves do so to relieve negative feelings, such as stress or discomfort. In addition to this, self-harm can also be a way for some people to control their bodies when they can’t control other parts of their lives.

3. There Are Various Types of Self-Harm

Skin cutting is the most common form of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), but it is not the only one to watch out for if you suspect your teen is engaging in self-harm. Burning, head-banging, and hitting are also types of NSSIs. Most people who hurt themselves use multiple forms of NSSIs.

4. Viewing Content About Self-Harm Can Be a Trigger

Studies also suggest that viewing content about self-harm, particularly on social media, can encourage teens to replicate the behavior, especially if they’ve had a problem involving it in the past. Research indicates that teens who watch triggering content are over ten times more likely to have thoughts about hurting themselves.

5. Self-Harming Teens Often Hide Their Problematic Behaviors

As mentioned earlier, people who self-harm find their problematic behaviors shameful and often attempt to hide any evidence of their actions. It can be challenging to determine whether or not your teen is engaging in self-harming behaviors.

Some signs that your teen may be self-harming are:

• Unexplained cuts, bruising, scars, and healing or healed wounds
• Stories that may explain some physical injuries
• Constantly wearing watchbands, wristbands, or large bracelets
• Frequent use of bandages or other methods of covering wounds

What to Expect from a Self-Harm Treatment Program

Self-harm awareness should lead to getting your teen admitted into a self-harm treatment program if they need professional help.

Typically, this type of treatment program has a length of one to three months. While many teens participate in 30-day programs because of limited time and financial resources, getting your teen into a 90-day program is always preferable.

Some teens use self-harming behaviors to cope with negative feelings, so therapy can help develop better ways to deal with them. Medication is also sometimes used to help reduce obsessive thoughts and behaviors and to improve mood. Given that much of the focus of a self-harm treatment program is usually therapy, a short program will only just begin to address underlying issues that have developed your teen’s need to hurt themselves.

Some recovery components offer the most powerful and longest-lasting benefits when continued for more than one month. These components include:

• Individual therapy
• Family counseling
• Equine-assisted therapy
• Adventure therapy
• Participation in support groups.

Learn More About Foothills at Red Oak Recovery

Searching for a teen boys self-harm treatment program in North Carolina? Contact Foothills at Red Oak Recovery by calling 866.300.5275 or reaching out to our team online.