DD self harm scars - how to talk to younger siblings about this?

[TigerTigi]

My 15 yr DD has self-harm scars on her arms and legs. She has made huge progress towards stopping self-harming and I am so proud of how far she has come. However, her scars are still very visible and marked on the top of her arms and legs and she tends to cover them up, especially around family members. She is more open with her friends.

At home, everyone knows about her self-harm except for her youngest sibling - DS 7 yr. We haven't talked to him about it because it feels like he is too young to understand - and although I don't want him to feel it is a 'secret', at the same time, we have not told many people about it and would like to keep it that way.

With all the hot weather - plus we are going away on a beach holiday later this year - it is getting harder to keep this from DS and for my DD to stay covered up.

Does anyone have any experience of telling children - especially younger siblings - about self-harm? How do you explain it? I would so love some advice as it is such a sensitive issue and I'm really not sure how best to deal with it in everyone's best interest.

Would be great to hear - thanks

[SimSam]

Hi,
im really sorry to hear this happening to your family. I’m hopeful for your DS and send you strength to keep going.
my family is in a similar situation and I also am looking how to explain to a younger sibling (11)
No one can understand how this affects a family unless they have experienced this kind of situation.
my GP was no help and I haven’t found any help online with relling siblings. I’ll keep searching and post links if I find any.

[TigerTigi]

SimSam Thank you so much for your supportive words. Sorry you are going through a similar situation. It is unbelievably difficult and heart-breaking all round.. sending strength to you too, it is so vital to believe things will get better and to keep hold of a sense of hope and joy (so easy to lose sight of that).

I have searched online for advice on telling siblings and I can't find anything at all - so would really appreciate anything you can find.

Really hoping to hear from families who have been through this and have spoken to younger siblings and other family members - learning from other's experience is so helpful. The more we share about self-harm and the impact on families, the better...

thanks again