Last year, twice as many people contacted the Red Cross about self-harm compared to 2022. It is the Red Cross’s call service for young people under the age of 18. – It is brutal and frightening, says Theo Halvorsen. He cut up various areas of the body. The cuts were often so deep that he had to sew. It started when he was 13 years old. – I had a rather difficult childhood in childcare. Self-injury makes one forget the psychological pain a little. He himself has not used the chat service, but thinks it is important to be able to talk to someone. He decided to stop self-harming in 2022. By then he had turned 18, and moved on his own. – Suddenly things became a little easier. I got hope in life, he says. Theo himself has kept track of how long he has been injury-free: Meeting without prejudice Nelli Kongshaug is the leader of Kors på Halsen. She says self-harm is a difficult topic. – It is important to meet young people without prejudice. We are always open and you can contact us anonymously. Last year there were a total of over 25,000 calls. In 2023, there was also an increase in themes dealing with child protection, bullying, jealousy, parties, falling in love and the body. Suicide is still the topic most people bring up. Nelli Kongshaug is the manager of the call service Cross on the neck. And twice as many had a need to talk about self-harm. – When young people talk about self-harm, it means that they feel bad inside. We try to understand what’s behind it, and give them support, says Kongshaug. More people injure themselves New research shows that the use of social media has a connection with self-harm among young people. Lars Mehlum is professor of psychiatry and head of the national center for suicide research and prevention. – Our studies show a fourfold increase in self-harm in the last 10-15 years. We don’t know for sure why, but believe that, among other things, social media can influence young people. Young people are applicants, and the contagion effect is great, he says. In addition, mental illness flourished during the pandemic. Lars Mehlum is a psychiatrist and says that self-harm has become more common in recent years. Photo: Truls Alnes Antonsen / news He believes the most important thing is to have the conversation. – Ask if the person has hurt themselves on purpose, and how often it happens. Does it in a way that is not judgmental or critical. He assures that there is good help to be had. – It can mean that you not only stop self-harming, but get a life worth living. Theo believes that parents in particular must talk to their children. – I think few parents know how to talk about this. Many parents become disappointed, angry or stressed. Then it will only get worse. 16 months without cutting He managed to quit on his own, but remembers well the last time he cut himself. – There were a lot of feelings at the time. I also grinned a little because there was no more room on my left arm, he says. Theo and his girlfriend Thea. – She was very important to me, says Theo. Photo: Privat Now he is open about his own past and his mental health. – I don’t want others to experience the same thing as me. Many people contact me and thank me, it means a lot. He even thanks one of the employees at an institution he worked at. – She saw me and helped me time and time again. She was perhaps the biggest reason why I was able to get back on my feet and stop self-harming. Do you need someone to talk to? Chat service from Church SOS: soschat.no Church SOS helpline: 22 40 00 40 Mental health’s helpline: 116 123 24-hour help chat sidetmedord.no Cross on the neck from the Red Cross: 800 33 321 Cross on the neck chat: korspåhalsen.no In an emergency, call 113 Updated February 2024
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Red Cross: – Twice as many contacted about self-harm
