Welcome to the DAD.Info forum: Important Information – open to read:
Our forum aims to provide support and guidance where it can, however we may not always have the answer. The forum is not moderated 24 hours a day, so If you – or someone you know – are being harmed or in immediate danger of being harmed, call the police on 999.
Alternatively, if you are in crisis, please call Samaritans on 116 123.
If you are worried about you or someone you know is at risk of harm, please click here: How we can help
Hi - I don't know what to do, yesterday we discovered my daughter has been self-harming. Not sure if this is real, recent photo's of holiday do not show any marks at all on that arm, yet she says she's been harming for a year - the white marks on her arm look like scars, but there's so many, has anyone any experience of this to share, I don't know what to do
Best to get some professional help with this. Would she let you take her to see the doctor? Can you talk to school?
hi, you should report to MASH/childrens services and seek support from them.
Hi, hearing from your child that they are self harming or thinking about doing it, is very difficult. Parents often wonder how to react or what to do next. Firstly, it is really important to listen and to be open to hear what she wants to say. Try not to judge or dismiss what she is feeling or what she says, as she may shut down if she feels that she's not being listened to. You don't always have to have a response to what she says. Just letting her know that you are there, being open-minded, listening and supporting her is vital. Keep communicating and listening is the key. Tell her your a team and you will help her get through this.
Have a read of the info on these links to find out more about it and to know wat to say to her. Do seek help as she needs to get support to stop and to help her with the reasons why it is happening too. It's helpful to talk to your GP before things escalate further.
Self-Harm & Mental Health | Guide For Parents | YoungMinds
How to cope if your child is self-harming | Spurgeons
Once you know more about it, it is useful to write a safety plan together but you may want to seek support to do this part. link here: Self-harm safety plan template
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