When someone hurts themselves intentionally, they are engaging in self-harm. People may harm themselves for a variety of reasons, but often, self-harm functions as a way for someone to manage painful, difficult, or overwhelming emotions. The effects of self-harm can be serious, and it is important for someone who is struggling with the behavior to seek support. Through self-harm treatment, you can learn safe coping strategies and take back control of your life.
Henry Ford Behavioral Health Hospital offers trusted inpatient treatment for children and adolescents and adults age 18 and older who are struggling with self-harm. At our location in West Bloomfield, Michigan, we provide acute inpatient care so that patients can stabilize, manage crisis symptoms, and lay the groundwork for lasting healing.
Signs & Symptoms of Self-Harm
The experience of self-harm may be unique for each person, with some people engaging in the behavior a few times and others relying on it over a longer period. Common self-harm signs and symptoms include:
- Regular injuries, including cuts, burns, or scratches
- Scars or bruises that show a possible pattern
- Comments about feeling hopeless or worthless
- Appearing to be accident-prone
- Presence of sharp objects
- Covering up, even in hot weather
- Unexplained bandages
- Broken bones
- Social difficulties
- Impulsive or unpredictable behavior
Often, people who struggle with self-harm feel intense shame and go to great lengths to hide their actions from others. Though self-harm may cause significant distress, it can be difficult for someone to address it on their own. If you are struggling with self-harm, receiving care at a qualified treatment place can make an enormous difference for your long-term well-being.
Self-Harm Statistics
Although self-harm can occur at any life stage, it’s most common among teens and young adults. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) reports that 17.2% of adolescents and 13.4% of young adults have engaged in self-harm.
The American Psychological Association shares the following self-harm statistics:
- The lifetime prevalence of reported self-harm among adults is about 5%.
- In two college studies, approximately one-third of students who engaged in self-harm reported injuring themselves badly enough that they should have received medical care.
- Research has shown higher rates of self-harm among young people who are gay or bisexual.
- Young people who experience bullying by peers are at higher risk for self-harm.
- In a three-year study, students who initially did not report suicidal thoughts but later engaged in self-harm 20 or more times were 3.4 times more likely to attempt suicide.
Additionally, experiencing trauma, abuse, or neglect can increase a person’s risk for self-harm, according to NAMI.
Potential Effects of Self-Harm
Self-harm can damage a person’s emotional and mental well-being and endanger their physical health and safety. Effects of self-harm can include:
- Feelings of shame or guilt
- Worsening emotional distress
- Low self-esteem
- Serious physical injury
- Permanent physical scars
- Relationship impacts
- Avoiding social situations
- Spending less time on regular activities
- Suicidal thoughts
- Risk for infection
By receiving professional self-harm treatment at our West Bloomfield, Michigan, hospital, you can learn to manage negative emotions in healthier ways, which can protect you from further suffering and help you become stronger and happier.
Benefits of Self-Harm Treatment
Although self-harm itself is not a mental health disorder, it is a serious concern that deserves compassion and personalized support.
If you are struggling with self-harm, you might feel embarrassed or scared to talk about it with another person. You may also wonder how to broach the subject or worry that others might judge you.
Self-harm treatment can offer meaningful support in a nonjudgmental setting, which can help you address the underlying causes of self-harming behaviors. Working with trained mental health professionals in therapy, you can gain self-awareness and work to break negative thought patterns and unhealthy behavior cycles.
Participating in therapy can also help you learn effective coping strategies, improve your relationship skills and build your support system, and enhance your self-esteem.
Why Choose Our Self-Harm Treatment Center in West Bloomfield
At Henry Ford Behavioral Health Hospital’s inpatient self-harm treatment center, each patient receives customized care that caters to their unique needs and strengths.
If you are interested in receiving self-harm treatment, we encourage you to complete a free assessment, which will help us evaluate your needs and determine whether our self-harm treatment center may be the right place for you.
Depending on your needs, your individualized self-harm treatment plan at Henry Ford Behavioral Health Hospital may include:
- Medication management services: Not all patients have medication included in their treatment plans, but those who do meet daily with a nurse for medication management services.
- Individual therapy: Patients can meet one-on-one with a social worker in a confidential setting on an as-needed basis. This can give them a safe space to discuss any struggles they are having and to track their treatment progress.
- Family therapy: Family therapy is offered weekly for children and adolescents at our self-harm treatment center. For adults, family therapy sessions occur on an as-needed or as-requested basis.
- Group therapy: Group therapy sessions at our behavioral health hospital take place daily and are led by experienced social workers. Patients may participate in various types of groups, including process groups, psychoeducation groups, and skills development groups. During those groups, patients have an opportunity to discuss a number of different topics, such as trauma, coping skills, self-esteem, and healthy boundaries.
- Experiential therapy: Adolescents and adults can participate in experiential therapies during their time at our self-harm treatment center. Examples of the types of experiential therapies we offer include art therapy, music therapy, and recreational therapy. Experiential therapies are offered daily.
We are also able to provide basic medical care when needed.
Our Compassionate Treatment Team
At Henry Ford Behavioral Health Hospital, we believe that patients can benefit from the unique strengths and abilities our staff members bring to the treatment process. We aim to provide patients with positive healing experiences that can continue to inspire them after treatment ends.
We are proud of the highly skilled individuals who provide care at our self-harm treatment center, which include:
- Psychiatrists
- Family medicine physicians
- Psychiatric nurse practitioners
- Social workers
- Dietitians
- Art therapists
- Music therapists
- Recreation therapists
- Mental health technicians
Every person on our team is dedicated to helping each patient find true and lasting healing.
Finding the Right Self-Harm Treatment Center
Seeking self-harm treatment can be an important investment in your health and well-being. So, it may be helpful to know what qualities to look for when you’re choosing a treatment place.
Below, we outline key treatment features that can help you work toward healing and a healthier life:
- Support from a variety of professionals
- The right level of care to meet your needs
- Age-appropriate treatment services
- Individualized treatment for a range of behavioral health concerns
- Use of evidence-based therapies
- Comprehensive aftercare planning
Henry Ford Behavioral Health Hospital in West Bloomfield, Michigan, offers inpatient treatment for children and adolescents and adults age 18 and older who are struggling with self-harm.
At Henry Ford Behavioral Health Hospital, we treat a range of mental health disorders and addictions using evidence-based therapeutic interventions and treatment modalities, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing, and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), to ensure that everyone in our care gets a truly well-rounded treatment experience that sets the foundation for lasting healing.
If you have any questions about self-harm treatment, the specific services we offer at our West Bloomfield hospital, or the admissions process, please contact us today. Our intake specialists are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
This content was written on behalf of and reviewed by the clinical staff at Henry Ford Behavioral Health Hospital.