Self-harm of adolescents can not be attributed to mental disorders
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
Teenagers often harm themselves, simply because they heard stories that it would give them pleasure or they saw it in the movies.
Despite the fact that self-mutilation is considered as a problem of a mental nature, it is not so. According to Jonas Bjoerhead and his team from Lund University, Sweden, one can not equate adolescent self-harm to mental illnesses, even if they act consciously and purposefully.
Most teenagers who hurt themselves, wounded themselves with sharp objects, smashed their heads against the walls or covered their bodies with abrasions. The report of scientists emphasizes the importance of understanding the difference between when adolescents are hurting themselves because of a psychological problem and when it is simply a portrayal of typical teenage behavior.
In the course of the study, Dr. Bjorehead and his team conducted a survey of 1,000 adolescents from southern Sweden. The results showed that one of the four adolescents surveyed by the experts had once intentionally harmed themselves, however, only a very small number continued to injure themselves regularly.
"It is very important that school staff and medical workers know how to deal with young people who harm themselves. They must respond appropriately and do not punish for it. For many of these young people, this behavior is often temporary. It can be seen as an experiment or a solution to teenage problems that are not of a serious nature, "the researchers say.
Dr. Björéed emphasizes that young people who hurt themselves are at risk, and their behavior may further lead to problems with the psyche.
An important task is to understand this trend and identify the signs of a mental illness in order to be able to take the necessary measures and prevent illness or help the adolescent, the study authors say.
They emphasize that punishments or reprimands will only exacerbate the child's behavior, it is better to turn to a specialist who can diagnose what exactly is going on with a teenager and what causes they are driving.
[