Self-harm is any behavior by someone to themselves but that do not intend to die. It is usually a form of coping mechanism to address difficult or distressing thoughts and feelings. Self-harm behaviors include cutting the wrist, burning, or non-lethal overdoses, and other high-risk behaviors.
There is no specific age limit as to who usually does self-harm as it can affect anyone. But it is believed that around 10% to 20% of young people do it. Additionally, there are people who are more likely to self-harm due to the things that have happened in their lives making them more at risk of committing such act.
Recently, a new study published in the journal Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavia suggests that self-harm could be contagious among teenagers especially those who know someone who did it.
Self-harm Contagion on Teens
The new study used data from 2014 from over 1,400 Ontario teenagers from ages 14-17 in which the researchers focused on the answers to the question "Has a friend of yours ever hurt themselves without the intention to die?"
They found that those who answered "yes" are two to three times more likely to have thought about or done the same thing. This behavior is alarming especially during the pandemic because not only is acute distress a sign of later suicidal behavior but also doing self-harm.
According to Dr. Ian Colman of the University of Ottawa and author of the study, non-suicidal self-injury is twice as common than suicidal attempts and more common than death by suicide.
The study is built on previous research which showed that teenagers are more likely to demonstrate suicidal behavior or have suicidal thoughts if they are exposed to suicide compared to those who are not.
Experts said that this form of communication and behavior is contagious that its spread can even be tracked by epidemiologists like a physically communicable disease. Social measures have been put in place to protect those who are likely to do such an act knowing that it is likely to happen to people who were exposed to suicide.
They said that the key to preventing teenagers from engaging to self-harm is communication. Adults should build trust for younger people by listening to them without the threat of judgment.
Dr Colman said that there is a belief that parents who talk about suicide to their children increase the chance of adolescents committing self-harm or suicide.
Read Also: Teen Allegedly Committed Suicide After Feeling 'Isolated' Amid Coronavirus Lockdown
Behavioral Contagion
The tendency to repeat the behavior of others that performed it is called behavior contagion. Self-harm or suicide contagion happens when people are exposed to suicidal behavior by one's family, peers, or acquaintances. It can also be bought out by suicide reports in the media without proper and concise facts about the case.
People tend to imitate others due to many reasons, such as to understand people more deeply, and as a social function in bonding with other people.
The human brain is wired to imitate things it sees because of the connection between perception and action or the seeing and doing inside the brain.
Therefore, following exposure to self-harm or suicide a person must undergo evaluation by a professional mental healthcare provider, especially those deemed at risk of committing suicide.
Read More: Tiktok Warns To Ban Users Spreading Alarming Video Clips of a Man Harming Himself
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