HSED-Additional Bulletin Board
December 17th, 2019
Self-Injury - Parent Awareness
Date: December 17, 2019
Dear Harmony Families:
I am writing to you today to share some concerns about students who have expressed a desire to harm themselves. And it is my hope that this letter can spur a discussion among our families about a very serious topic.
As you may know, there is increasing evidence that the Internet and social media can influence suicide-related behavior. Internet use can cause more exposure to graphic content and lead to cyberbullying, in many cases over the past ten years cyberbullying has led to self-harm and suicide. With that, I am asking you today to please be extra vigilant in monitoring your child’s social media use.
As a parent, it’s important to know the potential warning signs of self-harm in children:
Noticeable changes in eating or sleeping habits
Unexplained or unusually severe, violent, or rebellious behavior
Withdrawal from family or friends
Sexual promiscuity, truancy, and vandalism
Drastic personality change
Agitation, restlessness, distress, or panicky behavior
Talking or writing about committing suicide, even jokingly
Giving away prized possessions
Doing poorly in school
If you notice any of these warning signs in your child, take the following steps:
Offer help and listen. Don’t ignore the problem. What you've noticed maybe the teen's way of crying out for help. Offer support, understanding, and compassion. Talk about feelings and the behaviors you have seen that cause you to feel concerned. You don't need to solve the problem or give advice. Sometimes just caring and listening, and being nonjudgmental, gives all the understanding necessary.
Take talk of suicide or self-harm seriously, and use the word “suicide.” Talking about suicide doesn't cause suicide—but avoiding what's on the teen's mind may make that teen feel truly alone and uncared for. Tell your child that, together, you can develop a strategy to make things better. Ask if your child has a plan for suicide. If he or she does, then seek professional help immediately.
Remove lethal weapons from your home, such as guns. Lock up pills, and be aware of the location of kitchen utensils, as well as ropes, which can be used as a means to commit suicide.
Get professional help. A teen at risk of suicide needs professional help. Even when the immediate crisis passes, the risk of suicidal behavior remains high until new ways of dealing and coping with problems are learned.
Don’t be afraid to take your child to a hospital emergency room if it is clear that he or she is planning suicide. You may not be able to handle the situation on your own.
Please know that HSE-Dallas counselors, teachers, and other staff have been and will continue to be available for the students, parents, and teachers to talk about thoughts, feelings, and concerns.
And please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
Thank you,
Dr. Ilker Fidan
Principal