parents of teens who self harm

[megan95]

how does you teen cope with covering up scars and cuts does this make them feel insecure?

are you able to talk openly with them about self harm?

did you teen's school find out about their self harm?

My DD2 self harmed for a few years and still does now and again when the stress of life gets too much... it was and is, heart rending.

When I first found out, she was 14..now 19.. and I asked her to tell me, if she could, when she felt the need and we would do anything together, talk, walk eat, whatever until the urge passed. Sometimes I just held her, sobbing:(

School knew.. they saw marks on her arms and legs and I have to say, were brilliant. She also had an eating disorder and one teacher in particular was very supportive. He had battled bulimia for years and talked to her about it.. helped her see that she wasn;t alone, and that she could recover.

5 years later it is a rare occurrence (she's at uni now) but she will tell me..or I will gently ask as I know the signs from her blog and her texts to me.

The scars have faded, but she is now under the MH team at uni who support her.
It is so hard as a parent but it CAN get better...