Locating Support Groups for Your Child to Overcome Self-Harming
Sixteen-year-old Ava kept her sleeves pulled down even in the Arizona heat. Her parents thought she was just “being moody” again, but the reality was she was hiding evidence of her anxiety and the cuts she felt helped relieve it. The small cuts had become her only way of feeling in control when those thoughts of not being good enough bubbled to the surface.
And as a concerned parent, the reality is that teens like Ava don’t self-harm because they want attention. They’re filled with emotions too heavy to manage alone.
Artemis Adolescent Healing Center is a Joint Commission-accredited teen treatment program based in Arizona. Our clinicians team up to provide resources for self-harm help groups for teens, from local organizations to national crisis lines, that can help your teen take the first steps toward healing self-injury and emotional pain.
And remember, we can also help. Whether you’re looking for treatment or just need guidance on how to address these habits with your teen, please call us confidentially at any time.
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Local Self-Harm Help Groups for Teens in Arizona
Locally, Artemis offers all levels of care for clients ages 12 to 17, with our teen residential inpatient rehab program, alongside intensive outpatient (IOP) and partial hospitalization (PHP) programs for teens needing mental health or self-harm support.
All of these are trusted options depending on the level of care your child needs, and in our programs your young person learns tools to make a change and stop relying on self-injury to cope.
There are also several options in terms of self-help groups and crisis management in Tucson:
NAMI Southern Arizona is a local branch of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. They can help people find no-cost therapy groups for teens and families. NAMI has local meetings at Hope Inc., 1200 N. Country Club Rd., Tucson, Arizona, from 6 – 7:30 p.m. on Mondays.
City of Tucson Mental Health Crisis Line (520-622-6000) is another invaluable resource. They’re best for teens in crisis, who may need local resources now.
National Self-Harm Recovery Services
You don’t have to be actively wanting to self-harm to get help. These resources can help any young adult in crisis. Just contact them or share the number with your child to support them.
- NAMI has a phone and text line especially for teens and young adults. Call 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or text Friend to 62640 for help.
- The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline can be reached by phone or text (988) for 24/7 confidential support.
- Reach the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741 to connect with a trained counselor.
- The Trevor Project specializes in crisis help for LGBTQ+ youth. Contact them at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 678-678.
- To Write Love on Her Arms (TWLOHA) encourages open conversation about self-harm, depression, and recovery
- Self-Injury Outreach and Support (SIOS) provides stories, education, and peer-led recovery tools.
Are you looking to get them support for the first time? Or are you worried about self-harm relapse? These services can be used by teens at any time, no matter where they are in the journey of healing from self-harm behaviors.
What are the Benefits of Teen Support Groups for Self-Harm?
It’s impossible to heal if you feel alone. In a professional support group, your teen meets with other young people who share the same issues. They also might be dealing with anxiety, depression, or other things that make it hard to cope.
Some big feelings that can happen when your teen decides to heal are shame and guilt. Teen support groups help them see real people with their same struggles. They give these people grace and don’t assign blame. They are also populated by young people facing the same issues, and so there is more understanding than a friend or family member may have.
By interacting with other adolescents this way, they start to see how to forgive themselves for self-injuring, too.
What to Look for in a Safe Peer Group for Self Harm Recovery
Not all “support” spaces are going to offer the environment your child needs to move past self-harm habits. You want what is best for them, and that’s why it’s important to carefully vet their peer groups.
A good support group should encourage your teen to talk and learn new coping skills. There shouldn’t be emphasis on self-harm injuries or comparisons of methods. It should also be led by a trained facilitator or counselor, who keeps the ideas shared in the group positive and ensure it is a safe space for all participants.
Discussions should never make your child feel more likely to relapse.
Why Do Young People Self-Injure?
Though it may seem counterintuitive to outside observers, self-injury is a coping skill like drugs or alcohol. Your child is not “going through a phase,” and they aren’t turning to self-harm for attention.
Often, it’s a sign your teen has stress, anger, low self-esteem, or intense emotions they cannot cope with alone. They may self-harm to deal with what feels overwhelming or regain control when their world is spiralling.
Through self-harm, what your teen feels emotionally becomes physical and concrete. It may start with minor injuries that escalate with time, especially when your teen is faced with certain triggers. For example, after a stressful event, being bullied, not living up to their own standards, or feeling unseen.
You may want to talk to your teen about it, but remember to be tactful. Self-injury is a symptom, and not a diagnosis. Peer groups can help teens find support, but professional help is usually needed for the underlying issues.
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How Does Mental Health Support Benefit Self-Injury Recovery?
Teens who self-harm might also be dealing with anxiety, depression, or extreme stress. Healing starts with understanding the why behind these urges. From there, your teen learns coping tips and strategies to fight back against them.
Some of the more common treatment approaches include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). Groups that focus on these skills can benefit your teen even if they aren’t self-harm-focused.
Family therapy and support are equally important. It helps you and your teen rebuild communication and trust. Parents learn how to respond without judgment or panic, and teens learn that they aren’t misunderstood. They don’t have to face whatever is going on in their mind by themselves.
Let Artemis Support Your Teen Through Self-Injury Recovery
Self-harm recovery starts the moment your teen feels understood. They’ll find that through support groups and therapy, where isolation becomes connection and healing finally seems possible.
If you aren’t sure how to start, where to get treatment, or even if your teen needs help, call Artemis Adolescent Healing Center today. We can answer your questions, provide guidance, and offer reassurance that you (and your teen) aren’t dealing with this crisis alone.
All calls are confidential, so please reach out for compassionate support options now!