Emotional wellbeing and mental health

Sometimes children and young people cope with intense distress by deliberately cutting, scratching, burning or biting themselves, or refusing to eat. This is called self-harm. Kids in care often have to deal with overwhelming emotions, and it’s not uncommon for them to start self-harming.

While most young people who self-harm don’t want to die, the self-harm can still result in serious physical injury. It’s important not to dismiss self-harm as being manipulative or attention-seeking. Children and young people often say they self-harm because it relieves emotional pain or because they want to feel something rather than feel numb. The child or young person may have feelings of hopelessness and believe they have no control over their lives.

Signs that a child or young person is self-harming can include:

• not taking care of themselves, for example, poor hygiene or dirty clothes
• wearing clothing to cover up signs of cutting, for example, long sleeves in summer
• saying they feel hopeless, there is no point, or appearing not to care about anything
• withdrawing from friends and family
• seeing self-harm done by others, friends or on social media
• visiting websites about self-harm.

What to do if a child or young person is self-harming

• Let them know that help is available.
• Organise support from a counsellor or psychologist, in partnership with your caseworker.
• Make them aware of websites that can provide advice and support for young people, such as Headspace, Youth Beyond Blue and ReachOut.
• Make the effort to understand self-harm as a response to emotional pain and breaking down the stigmas associated with it.
• Reduce conflict within the home.
• Create a closer bond with the young person, for example, scheduling one-on-one time.
• Look at ways to reduce stress related to school or study.