Self harm situation

[littleINlpn]

This isn't totally nursing related but I have a 7th grade student who gets upset and then bites herself on her arm. It is a newer thing, I believe, and she states she has never broken the skin. She seems to have a lot going on in her life but she isn't very open to talking about everything. She was seeing a counselor previously but said they just gave her a notebook to draw in when she became upset and that did not help her, she started to cry when talking about her mother (says mother yells at her often) but when she started to tear up she told herself not to cry over and over and then was "fine." She says the only thing she likes to do is sit in a chair and spin, that's all she does at home. Are there any strategies you guys know of that could possibly help? I haven't worked with students like this before. I do not want her self harm to go deeper. She has an independent study to do for class and she wanted to do it on suicide, so that makes me worry a bit.

[Farawyn]

Sounds like kiddie PTSD, almost.

I used to do a lot of the same things as a form of ineffective coping when I was younger.

Totally agree with Hppy. This child needs an evaluation, stat.

*flying tackle hug*

[kidzcare]

Any update?

[littleINlpn]

I have been able to talk with her daily which seems to help (her and I) and she is pretty open with everything that I have asked or discussed. She hasn't had anymore episodes of biting herself or any other self harming. We are having a counselor come in weekly so i am hoping this helps her out!

[MrNurse(x2), ADN]

Any chance of contacting parents for recommending further eval? I had a student who was self harming and had to initiate 911, as her parents weren't immediately amenable to the idea. Forced their hand and are actually grateful to me for it.