Self-harm trend among teens worries health, school officials

Calgary doctors and school counsellors are concerned about the growing number of kids who are self-harming.

• Self-harm behind 1 in 4 youth injury hospitalizations

A new national report from the Canadian Institute for Health Information shows the number of girls aged 10 to 17 who are hospitalized for self-inflicted cuts has jumped by 90 per cent in just five years.

The report found the majority of self-harm hospitalizations are still the result of intentional poisoning with prescription drugs, illegal drugs, alcohol or chemical solvents.

Dr. Michael Trew, Alberta's chief addictions and mental health officer, says a few decades ago cutting was seen as a sign of serious mental health issues.

But that has changed as more young people post what they're doing on social media, he said.

If your friends are trying it maybe you do as well. And even though there doesn't seem to be very good logic to this. We know it's not about logic it's about emotions, he said.

Helen MacKinnon, a registered psychologist who oversees counsellors in the Calgary Catholic school district, said she is getting more calls from principals who need help dealing with students who are self-harming.

"Kids are using things like Instagram, etc., to cut and then show their friends their cuts. Sometimes they cut together. So they are tweeting each other. Or on Facebook they hookup and say they're going to cut. They share techniques of how to cut.

Dr. Chris Wilkes, a child and adolescent psychiatrist in Calgary, says children need positive activities to engage in.

"The important message here is to look at healthy ways to self-regulate. We have tended to decrease opportunities to participate in other social activities, including music, art and sports, he said.

The Calgary Board of Education is working with Alberta Health Services, the Calgary Catholic School Board and otherboards to develop a protocol for schools to follow when self-harm is suspected.