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Adolescent self-harm cannot be categorized as a mental disorder
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
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Teenagers often harm themselves simply because they have heard stories about how they will enjoy it or have seen it in movies.
Although self-harm is often seen as a mental health problem, it is not. According to Jonas Bjørehed and his team from Lund University, Sweden, adolescent self-harm cannot be equated with mental illness, even if they are conscious and intentional.
Most teens who self-harm hurt themselves by cutting themselves with sharp objects, smashing their heads against walls or covering their bodies in bruises. The report highlights the importance of recognizing the difference between when teens self-harm because of a psychological problem and when it is simply a reflection of typical teenage behavior.
In the study, Dr. Björehed and his team surveyed 1,000 adolescents in southern Sweden. The results showed that one in four adolescents surveyed by the experts had intentionally harmed themselves at some point, but only a very small number continued to harm themselves regularly.
"It is important that school staff and health professionals know how to deal with young people who self-harm. They should respond appropriately and not punish them. For many of these young people, such behaviour is often temporary. It may be seen as an experiment or a solution to adolescent problems that are not serious in nature," the researchers say.
Dr. Bjørehed emphasizes that young people who hurt themselves are at risk, and their behavior may lead to mental health problems later on.
An important challenge is to understand this trend and identify signs of mental illness in order to be able to take the necessary measures and prevent the disease or provide assistance to the teenager, say the study authors.
They emphasize that punishments or reprimands will only worsen the child’s behavior; it is better to consult a specialist who can diagnose what exactly is going on with the teenager and what reasons drive him.
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