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Home /
Quick Facts: Children's Health Issues /
Mental Health Disorders in Children and Adolescents /
... /
Nonsuicidal Self-Injury in Children and Adolescents /
IN THIS TOPIC

What is nonsuicidal self-injury?

What causes children to hurt themselves?

How can I help children who are hurting themselves?

How do doctors treat children who hurt themselves?

OTHER TOPICS IN THIS CHAPTER

Mental Health Disorders in Children and Adolescents
Overview of Mental Health Disorders in Children
Overview of Anxiety Disorders in Children
Conduct Disorder
Depression in Children and Adolescents
Nonsuicidal Self-Injury in Children and Adolescents
Oppositional Defiant Disorder
Separation Anxiety Disorder
Social Anxiety Disorder in Children and Adolescents
Suicidal Behavior in Children and Adolescents

ADDITIONAL CONTENT

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Motion Sickness
Motion sickness includes symptoms, particularly nausea, that affect people while they ride in a moving object. The object can be a transport vehicle such as a car, boat, train, or airplane, or an amusement park ride. A contributing factor is over-stimulation of a part of the body involved in balance control. Which of the following is that body part?
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More Content

Quick Facts

Nonsuicidal Self-Injury in Children and Adolescents

By

The Manual's Editorial Staff

Last full review/revision Nov 2020| Content last modified Nov 2020
Click here for the Professional Version
Get the full details

What is nonsuicidal self-injury?

Nonsuicidal self-injury is when adults or children:

  • Hurt themselves in ways that clearly aren't meant to cause death, such as scratching, cutting, or burning themselves

Children who hurt themselves:

  • Are usually teens

  • May also abuse drugs or alcohol

  • Aren't trying to kill themselves, although some later do try to commit suicide

  • May be helped by therapy that helps them find other ways to manage their emotions and stress

What causes children to hurt themselves?

Children and teens who hurt themselves may be doing it to:

  • Punish themselves

  • Get attention

  • Try to get help

  • Manage anger or stress

In some high schools, hurting yourself suddenly becomes a fad.

Although the behavior isn't necessarily suicidal, some children are at increased risk of suicide. Those at increased risk include children who:

  • Hurt themselves a lot

  • Use several methods of hurting themselves

  • Talk about suicide or have suicidal thoughts

How can I help children who are hurting themselves?

Because it's hard to tell which children are at risk of suicide, those who injure themselves should see a doctor who specializes in the problems of children and teens. Doctors will assess the risk of suicide and come up with a treatment plan.

How do doctors treat children who hurt themselves?

Doctors treat children who hurt themselves with:

  • Therapy

  • Sometimes, medicine

NOTE: This is the Consumer Version. DOCTORS: Click here for the Professional Version
Click here for the Professional Version
© 2020 Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA)
Depression in Children and Adolescents
Oppositional Defiant Disorder

OTHER TOPICS IN THIS CHAPTER

Mental Health Disorders in Children and Adolescents
Overview of Mental Health Disorders in Children
Overview of Anxiety Disorders in Children
Conduct Disorder
Depression in Children and Adolescents
Nonsuicidal Self-Injury in Children and Adolescents
Oppositional Defiant Disorder
Separation Anxiety Disorder
Social Anxiety Disorder in Children and Adolescents
Suicidal Behavior in Children and Adolescents
Others also read
Nonsuicidal Self-Injury in Children and Adolescents Nonsuicidal Self-Injury in Children and Adolescents
Suicidal Behavior in Children and Adolescents Suicidal Behavior in Children and Adolescents
Suicidal Behavior Suicidal Behavior
Download the Manuals App iOS ANDROID
Download the Manuals App iOS ANDROID
Download the Manuals App iOS ANDROID

Test your knowledge

Motion Sickness
Motion sickness includes symptoms, particularly nausea, that affect people while they ride in a moving object. The object can be a transport vehicle such as a car, boat, train, or airplane, or an amusement park ride. A contributing factor is over-stimulation of a part of the body involved in balance control. Which of the following is that body part?
Download the Manuals App iOS ANDROID
Download the Manuals App iOS ANDROID
Download the Manuals App iOS ANDROID

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Download the Manuals App iOS ANDROID
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