Do you think the regulations on calling parents about self-injury leads to more secrecy about the act?

Question

I've just been reading through a bunch of essays and articles about how parents are supposed to be informed, and I guess it makes sense, but doesn't it seem as if then we're giving these kids nobody they can turn to? Obviously they may not be able to turn toward parents, professional counselors require parental consent, friends are being told to report to counselors, where does it end? I understand that it may be necessary but does anyone else think that it actually harms the self-injurer more because it requires dealing with it alone? I'm just wondering what ya'll think.

Everyone who has answered so far, is basing their answer on the fact that the parents are willing to be involved. Maybe I wasn't clear enough. What if the parents refuse to be involved, and go so far as to refuse even a counselor for their child. I've talked to CPS workers and they say that since it is not a clear sign of neglect/abuse, they will not remove a child nor demand that mandatory counseling. And let's define it even more. If the parent reacts with anger each and every time they hear about a cutting incident, and the child really wants to receive some sort of help.Then what. I know what all ya'll meant, and I probably wasn't clear enough, but now I am, so now what's your opinion. Because as much as we want all parents to want what's best for their child, some can't see above their own needs when facing a child who self-injures.

Answer 1

I don't think reporting it is requiring the self-injurer to deal with it alone. We all have it beaten into our heads that we're all special and that harming ourselves is wrong. A self-injurer isn't someone that wants to hurt themselves they are someone that wants that emotional pain that they can't seem to deal with to end...so they turn it into physical pain which is something they feel they can deal with even though they know it's wrong. If they tell someone, even just a trusted friend who may have no choice to tell a counselor/teacher/parent it's a cry of help. They are just too scared to tell an adult...if someone else does it, it relieves that fear. Sure they will be angry at their friend for awhile but once the adults know, they'll know what to do. Whether it's getting medication for this person, therapy, or if it's really really really really severe an institution. Once they get better they'll see their friend had no choice and they'll see that they really weren't alone at all in dealing with it. I hope that made sense, it did to me anyway. :)

Answer 2

Secrecy only deepens the hole that a self-injurer is digging themself into.
Self-injury is an addictive behavior. And what we know about addiction is that environment makes a big contribution. In order for really effective intervention to actually work, the entire family has to be involved. That means counselling, therapy, support groups, all of it. It's not just the one person's problem.

Answer 3

Any person doing self-injury is not in a "normal and competant" state of mind.
By their acting on impulse to do harm "TO SELF or others" demonstrates that they are not fully incontrol of their mind.
Normal, sane, well people do not purposly injure themself.

Following in this same line of thought, it bears out that a person who is showing signs of being incapable of caring for themself ------and by law this is one of the main points of what is sane or insane -------- a person who cannot or will not provide self care, is in a state of mind requiring someone else to make their decisions for them.

Notification of parents in a case of self-harm would be the natural 1st step in finding a responsible party to provide the care required in that situation. Blood relatives will go through thick-and-thin to stay with the relative during times of trouble or illness, whether it be physical illness or mental illness.

Playing Devil's advocate here, WHAT IF there were no notification and the person did not reveal the information or avail themself to family for assistance.
1) homelessness,
2) illness and insanity unchecked with
3) no one to care if they lived or died,
4) no one to take charge and see to it that they receive the care required.

Regulation of parent notification for self-injury is a positive thing, connecting the person who needs help with the very people who should/would care enough to get the person help and aid them back to health.

Part of being insane is the inability to perceive correctly, and to reason reliably, or to care for one's self.