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Prevention
By Mayo Clinic staffThere is no sure way to prevent self-injury. Prevention strategies may need to involve both individuals and communities, including parents, schools, medical professionals and coaches, for instance.
Ways to reduce the risk of self-injury may include:
- Identifying people most at risk and offering help. For instance, those at risk can be taught resilience and healthy coping skills that they can then draw on during periods of distress.
- Expanding social networks. Many people who self-injure feel lonely and disconnected. Forming connections to others can improve relationship and communication skills.
- Raising awareness. Adults, especially those who work with children, should be educated about the warning signs of self-injury, and what to do when they suspect self-injury.
- Promoting programs encouraging peers to seek help. Peers tend to be loyal to friends even when they know a friend is in crisis. Programs that encourage youths to reach out to adults may chip away at social norms supporting secrecy.
- Offering education about media influence. News media, music and other highly visible outlets that feature self-injury may nudge vulnerable children and young adults to experiment. Teaching children critical thinking skills about the influences around them might reduce the harmful impact.
