Boarding Schools for Girls

Some teenagers deliberately hurt themselves by cutting or burning their skin, dangerous behaviors that are often associated with teen girls -- and which are becoming more common.

• In 2006, the most recent year for which statistics are available, about 400,000 teenagers required medical treatment for self inflicted injuries.
  
• One study found a 27 percent increase in such injuries between 1997 and 2007.
  
• Estimates are that 20 percent of teenagers have tried self injury at least once, and 10 percent have repeatedly engaged in this behavior.

When asked why they injure themselves, many teens answer that the behavior is a way to keep anger, sadness, rejection, and other negative emotions from overwhelming them. One theory is that self injury produces a release of natural painkillers called endogenous opioids that are calming and addictive.

According to Dr. Theodore Beauchaine, professor of psychology at the University of Washington and director of the Child and Adolescent Adjustment Project, self injuring behavior can be "contagious," in that one teen teaches another. He noted that there are Internet websites where teenagers share information about self injuring behaviors.

The reason that parents should be concerned if their child is participating in self injuring behaviors is that such individuals have a significantly increased risk of committing suicide.

Labels: cutting, self-injury

Posted By: Aspen/CRC