Expert Advice For Parents On Self-Harm

Experts have told us it’s OK to not try and stop your child self-harming straight away.

We’ve been speaking to YoungMinds as part of our #HarmLESS campaign, and experts say as a parent, it’s OK to take some time and seek advice before talking to your child.

Emma Saddleton is from the YoungMinds Parent’s Helpline, and she helps any mums and dads with concerns.

She told us:

“When you first find out, you don’t actually have to react immediately. You don’t have to have a conversation the same day with your child.

If you’ve found out your they’re self-harming they’ve probably been doing it for days, weeks, possibly even longer , and they’ve probably been managing that as a coping mechanism quite safely and quite well.

So if you need to take advice before you even start, communicating, do so.”

You can hear the full advice from Emma below: