Hi my 11yo daughter cut herself two days ago. She came to tell me last night. She has four cuts on her wrist. She was very upset obviously, and I did my very best to comfort her. I asked her if she’d done it before and she says she hasn’t. She is very embarrassed that she has done it. She says some kids at school have been mean to her, which her teachers are aware of and dealing with, and that’s why she did it. She was under a child psychologist for anxiety until a year ago and has since been doing really well. Good at school, joined after school clubs and has friends. Not a best friend as such but seems to hang out with a few different kids. She hasn’t seemed unhappy at home either. She has a phone, which I take at night from her so it doesn’t disturb her sleep and i do check it regularly for anything concerning.
My initial thoughts are that it has been done for attention. Do I wait and watch , to see if it happens again. She is adamant it won’t and says she hates that she’s done it. She has never had any previous marks that I’ve seen, or acted in a way that might indicate she has. I just don’t know whether or not I should be taking it further immediately. Or if I should just watch, wait and be there for her. I’ve also said to my children that home is a safe place and that they can come to either myself or my husband with any worries and we will never judge, just always be there for them. I’m hoping that because she’s come to me straight away that this is a positive sign. Any advice please would be much appreciated.