self mutilation- cut it out ! atlanta middle school counseling
TRANSCRIPT
Self Mutilation- Self Mutilation- Cut It Out !Cut It Out !
Atlanta Middle School Atlanta Middle School Counseling Counseling
What is Self Mutilation or What is Self Mutilation or “Cutting” ?“Cutting” ?
Self mutilation is deliberate Self mutilation is deliberate self harm or self-injury.self harm or self-injury.
The people who are self The people who are self mutilators are also often mutilators are also often called called ““cutterscutters””..
They often use razor They often use razor blades or knives or other blades or knives or other sharp objects to cut sharp objects to cut themselves.themselves.
They also injure They also injure themselves by pulling their themselves by pulling their hair, burning themselves, hair, burning themselves, fracturing their own bones, fracturing their own bones, scratching or head scratching or head banging.banging.
When Can It Begin?When Can It Begin?
Self mutilation usually Self mutilation usually begins in adolescence begins in adolescence and can last as long as and can last as long as 15-20 years. 15-20 years.
Adolescence is a time Adolescence is a time when people are going when people are going through many through many changes and trying to changes and trying to find out who they are.find out who they are.
They want to be They want to be socially connected socially connected with peers.with peers.
Why Do People Hurt or “Cut” Why Do People Hurt or “Cut” Themselves?Themselves?
Many people who are Many people who are cutters say that doing cutters say that doing this helps them feel this helps them feel better.better.
It makes them feel It makes them feel ““alivealive”” and releases and releases emotional stress.emotional stress.
These people have so These people have so much inner pain that much inner pain that they cannot express it they cannot express it verbally. They cut verbally. They cut themselves instead.themselves instead.
Cutting Myths Cutting Myths
People who cut themselves are NOT People who cut themselves are NOT always suicidal. They do not always always suicidal. They do not always want to die.want to die.
Not all cutters are female. Not all cutters are female. ““TimeTime”” magazine reports that 40% of cutters magazine reports that 40% of cutters are male!are male!
Cutters are always members of only Cutters are always members of only certain racial or ethnic groups. certain racial or ethnic groups.
The “Cutting” TruthThe “Cutting” Truth
2 million people in the world are self-injurers.2 million people in the world are self-injurers. Cutting makes the cutter feel that he/she is in Cutting makes the cutter feel that he/she is in
control of something.control of something. Self mutilation has been linked to people with Self mutilation has been linked to people with
eating disorders.eating disorders. Self mutilation has been called the Self mutilation has been called the ““new anorexianew anorexia””.. Many people in minority or ethnic groups who self Many people in minority or ethnic groups who self
injure do not report it so they are not known.injure do not report it so they are not known. There is always an underlying condition as to why There is always an underlying condition as to why
a “cutter” is cutting.a “cutter” is cutting. Cutting will NOT result in you being suspended Cutting will NOT result in you being suspended
from AMS.from AMS.
Who are self-mutilators?Who are self-mutilators? They have not learned how to deal with They have not learned how to deal with
their emotions well, and do not know how their emotions well, and do not know how to verbalize their feelings.to verbalize their feelings.
Many have negative self images.Many have negative self images. They may have difficulty feeling secure in They may have difficulty feeling secure in
relationships.relationships. Many are struggling with past issues and Many are struggling with past issues and
stress.stress. Peer pressure can add to an individual or a Peer pressure can add to an individual or a
group’s desire to self mutilate.group’s desire to self mutilate.
Recent historyRecent history Self mutilation was not taken Self mutilation was not taken
seriously for many years.seriously for many years. People who had this problem People who had this problem
were often either ignored or were often either ignored or placed in a psychiatric ward .placed in a psychiatric ward .
When the late Princess Diana When the late Princess Diana disclosed that she was a cutter, disclosed that she was a cutter, more media attention was given more media attention was given to this problem. to this problem.
Books, movies and TV shows Books, movies and TV shows have begun recently featuring have begun recently featuring more stories of self mutilation. more stories of self mutilation.
Movies include Movies include ““Thirteen.Thirteen.”” Books include Books include Bodily HarmBodily Harm and and A A
Bright Red ScreamBright Red Scream..
ItIt’’s a Group Thing!s a Group Thing! Scary but true!Scary but true! More and more teens are More and more teens are ““cuttingcutting””
in groups.in groups. Having a relationship with Having a relationship with
someone else that cuts someone else that cuts ““normalizesnormalizes”” self mutilation. self mutilation.
There are chat groups online that There are chat groups online that discuss better ways to hide the discuss better ways to hide the cuts and better ways to cut.cuts and better ways to cut.
Cutting can become a competition. Cutting can become a competition. For example, cutters may see try For example, cutters may see try to see who has a deeper cut or to see who has a deeper cut or who can take the most pain. who can take the most pain.
If you suspect your child of cutting, If you suspect your child of cutting, please ask them about it, and ask please ask them about it, and ask to see possible “cutting” areas but to see possible “cutting” areas but do not be confrontational! Be do not be confrontational! Be supportive and understanding!supportive and understanding!
Cutting GroupsCutting Groups Cutting in groups is increasing and becoming Cutting in groups is increasing and becoming
more popular.more popular. The teens feel that they are socially The teens feel that they are socially
connected and understood by the people connected and understood by the people who cut with them.who cut with them.
They do not feel like an outsider anymore, They do not feel like an outsider anymore, because they are not alone in what they do.because they are not alone in what they do.
This is an alarming trend, because they see This is an alarming trend, because they see nothing wrong with what they are doing if nothing wrong with what they are doing if their peers are doing the same thing!their peers are doing the same thing!
How To Know?How To Know? Self mutilators hide Self mutilators hide
their cuts and scars their cuts and scars well.well.
The cuts are usually The cuts are usually long and on their arms, long and on their arms, sometimes on the sometimes on the thighs or their stomach.thighs or their stomach.
They will often wear They will often wear long sleeve shirts and long sleeve shirts and pants even in the hot pants even in the hot weather.weather.
They will also make They will also make excuses for their cuts, excuses for their cuts, such as such as ““an animal has an animal has scratchedscratched”” them. them.
What You Can Do To HelpWhat You Can Do To Help If someone you know has If someone you know has
a problem with self a problem with self mutilation, tell someone mutilation, tell someone that can help.that can help.
Listen to them when they Listen to them when they tell you their problems.tell you their problems.
Do not judge them. Do not judge them. Telling someone is hard Telling someone is hard enough.enough.
Take them to a Take them to a counselor!counselor!
Be supportive!Be supportive!
Where to Go for HelpWhere to Go for Help You cannot solve a friend or family You cannot solve a friend or family
membermember’’s problem but you can tell them s problem but you can tell them where to turn for help.where to turn for help.
School Counselor can help refer to a School Counselor can help refer to a community professional counselor!community professional counselor!
www.selfinjury.com is a website that is is a website that is helpful.helpful.
The hotline is The hotline is 800 –DON800 –DON’’T-CUTT-CUT
ConclusionsConclusions Self Mutilation is a serious problem Self Mutilation is a serious problem
effecting many people.effecting many people. People who self mutilate need support People who self mutilate need support
and love from family and friends!and love from family and friends! Self mutilation can be stopped with Self mutilation can be stopped with
help from therapy.help from therapy. Many articles tell about people who Many articles tell about people who
were hurting themselves, got help and were hurting themselves, got help and then stopped self mutilating.then stopped self mutilating.
AMS Counseling OfficeAMS Counseling Office
Please feel free to refer Please feel free to refer a friend or personally a friend or personally come and see the AMS come and see the AMS Counselor! You will not Counselor! You will not get in trouble and you get in trouble and you will not be suspended will not be suspended and we will get you and we will get you and/or your friends the and/or your friends the help that is needed!help that is needed!