Last week I read an article that said that 1 in 6 teens are involved in self-harming behavior. Anytime I read a statistic, on self-injury or anything to do with teens who are hurting and broken, I want to ask, “How many never give their voice to those numbers?”
An article from July, 2007 gave another perspective. 633 students from five high schools, average age 16, anonymously participated in a survey. 46% admitted they had been involved in some form of self-injury within the prior year. 60% of those described their self-injury as moderate to severe.
If those numbers are anywhere closer to representative, then the numbers are much higher than 1 in 6 teens.
March 1st is National Self-Injury Awareness Day. Do you know the signs that someone may be self-harming? Do you know how to begin to help? It’s okay if you don’t, and it's not something you should feel you have to do alone. Here are some ways to raise your awareness or help others do so:
Visit my site where I’m blogging about this topic, including how teens help teens. Also, click on “self-injury resources” in the side column for links and resource suggestions.
Consider reading Jackie’s true story in Scars That Wound, Scars That Heal—A Journey Out of Self-Injury
. Not only will this book help you understand self-injury and how to help, it’s a book that can be given to any teen or young adult who may be struggling. It is written for them.
(Read an excerpt.)
I interviewed both guys and girls for that book. Suzy was one of those who shared her story. At one point she told me, “Though I had been cutting, really the main way I was self-harming was through my promiscuous lifestyle.” I told Suzy’s story in the second of the Live Free series. Hers is an amazing love story. Seduced by Sex, Saved by Love—A Journey Out of False Intimacy
will release March 3rd (available to preorder).
Jackie, Suzy, and others have shared their stories. Their voices mattered. Remember, real stories are behind the statistics you read about. Some of those could belong to people you know. It could be yours.
An article from July, 2007 gave another perspective. 633 students from five high schools, average age 16, anonymously participated in a survey. 46% admitted they had been involved in some form of self-injury within the prior year. 60% of those described their self-injury as moderate to severe.
If those numbers are anywhere closer to representative, then the numbers are much higher than 1 in 6 teens.
March 1st is National Self-Injury Awareness Day. Do you know the signs that someone may be self-harming? Do you know how to begin to help? It’s okay if you don’t, and it's not something you should feel you have to do alone. Here are some ways to raise your awareness or help others do so:
Visit my site where I’m blogging about this topic, including how teens help teens. Also, click on “self-injury resources” in the side column for links and resource suggestions.
Consider reading Jackie’s true story in Scars That Wound, Scars That Heal—A Journey Out of Self-Injury
. Not only will this book help you understand self-injury and how to help, it’s a book that can be given to any teen or young adult who may be struggling. It is written for them.(Read an excerpt.)
I interviewed both guys and girls for that book. Suzy was one of those who shared her story. At one point she told me, “Though I had been cutting, really the main way I was self-harming was through my promiscuous lifestyle.” I told Suzy’s story in the second of the Live Free series. Hers is an amazing love story. Seduced by Sex, Saved by Love—A Journey Out of False Intimacy
will release March 3rd (available to preorder).Jackie, Suzy, and others have shared their stories. Their voices mattered. Remember, real stories are behind the statistics you read about. Some of those could belong to people you know. It could be yours.
There is help and there is hope for healing. Feel free to contact me through my website if you need more information.
(The LORD) heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds . . . Great is our Lord and abundant in strength. His understanding is infinite. Psalm 147:3,5 NAS
On my knees for you.
Jan
http://choose2livefree.com/
http://www.jankern.com/
1 comment:
Thanks for posting on this Jan. I didn't know about the National Awareness Day. I just visited the site for your Live Free books. It's great!
Blessings,
Jeanette
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