How to get a teen to accept medical attention if he doesn't want to (SELF HARM WARNING)

[FashionDrummer]

My grandson is 17, he lives with me and my son and self harms. This morning he showed my son a wound on his hand that looked quite sore and red and possibly infected. It was from self harm and then yesterday he got salt in it which made it worse and hurt more. He doesn't usually take care of self harm as it is.

My son told him he'd take him to the pharmacy after college (grandson would need to book the GP appointment due to his age and he definitely wouldn't) and took him to college. When he finished college it looks worse, I think he's been messing with it throughout the day. But he refused to go to the pharmacy and doesn't seem to understand how serious it could be.

He has been complaining it hurts and burning but won't go anywhere. The GP receptionist once told me to call 111 or take him to A&E if I think he's in crisis but I don't think he is and it's getting him there also.

Both myself and my son are at a loss and the pharmacies might close soon. We've asked him why and he hasn't given much of a reason just that he doesn't want to. I think it's possible its because it's self harm and he's still hurting Himself by not getting help but I could be wrong

Will he let you clean it and cover it with something like a dressing? Wash it in warm water, soak it if he'll let you and dry it properly.

Draw around any red areas and if the reddening gets bigger, it's an indicator of infection.

But it may just be angry because of the salt and need time to settle down.

Are you sure he would have to book the GP appointment himself? I book for my son who is 18.

Salt won’t hurt it, salt water actually helps. If he’s in crisis (not necessarily now) take him to the nearest a&e with a mental health suite (usually larger ones) they will get him help, they have been good with my dd

I would book an appointment for him and just hope he is willing to attend. I think sitting him down and gentle telling him why you've booked the appointment ..how concerned you and his Dad are might get him to go with you. Definitely need to avoid argument though. Once the appointment has been booked, you have told him of it and tried to persuade him there is no more you can do about getting him there. He might go. He might refuse. Hopefully, if he goes, they can arrange some appropriate teen counselling quite quickly for him.

He won't let us dress it or clean it or even look at it now, he doesn't usually clean his self harm which does worry me.

I phoned the GP a few weeks ago and they said due to his age (then 16) that he needed to call them himself and make an appointment or at least give consent for us to speak to them which he wouldn't give. I am concerned about his mental health

Bump

Messing with an open wound is another form of self harm, he probably wants it to become infected. I say that as a self harmer. He needs to get some antiseptic cream on it at least - some savlon or something, but honestly he needs psychiatric help more and I know that's really difficult to access.

He was referred to camhs a while ago, but he's 18 next summer and will probably wont get an appointment. The issue is he doesn't really see that there's anything wrong with him, I also suspect he's autistic as my son also is but he also won't acknowledge that either.

I am worried about his mental health particularly as he threatens suicide a lot to get his own way but we do worry because we don't know if he's being genuine.