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Child self harming

2 replies

MC846 · 26/06/2025 15:58

I'm looking for some advice for my 6 year old son. He's possibly ADHD, very bright and a lovely child but has always been a bit difficult. He had a big health scare last year and lost a family pet and seems to have developed health anxiety and can be very anxious in social situations, he worries people think he's stupid and he doesn't quite fit in. In the last 6 months he's become violent at home during tantrums and has taken to trying to strangle or drown himself because he says he wants to die.

He's displayed this behaviour at school and they've been great in terms of safeguarding and making sure he doesn't hurt himself, but can't give any support in helping us to deal with the acts of self harm in themselves.

The school referred us to the emotional support team and they've put me on a 6 week CBT course to help me learn how to manage his anxiety but can't seem to offer any further help.

His GP referred to CAMHS but they didn't accept the referral because of his age and so GP is unable to suggest anything more.

What on earth can I do to help him, I'm so scared he's going to hurt himself and no-one seems to be able to help in any real way.

OP posts:
purpleme12 · 26/06/2025 16:04

He's tried to strangle and drown himself?! Wow
That's a lot!

I'm not sure I'm much help and you've probably come across these but when he wants to hurt himself/in emotional distress he can ping an elastic band on his wrist. Or hold ice cubes on his wrist.
These emulate similar feelings to what the self harm does without harming

TheOrbOfTheEmmisary · 29/06/2025 13:36

If DS is six, CAMHS shouldn't refuse due to age. Most CAMHS are 5-16, but there are more that do work 0-25. The old Ten Year Plan said that all mental health services needed to offer a comprehensive 0-18 service, so if yours doesn't, the commissioners should still provide something.

I'd get your GP to ask them to reconsider, and make sure they did provide all of the information (most rejections from CAMHS are because of poor information from GPs)

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