How to Protect Your Children From Self-Injury

Check out these 8 Internet resources to help keep you informed.

From suffocation deaths to cutting, destructive trends among today's youth are growing with the help of the Internet, according to experts. Websites and chat rooms that promote the discussion, and tip exchange, of self-harm topics often operate under the radar. However, some search engines, such as Yahoo and AOL, shut down self-injury sites on their servers when they detect them, and many service providers offer parents the option to block access to certain sites and content. The organizations and resources below offer information on protecting your kids online and at home.

• The National Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
  The PTA provides families with great resources for keeping kids safe and offering them the tools they need to find success. Its Parent Resources section contains information on safety and media technology, including tips on keeping communication open with children about topics they may encounter via the television and Internet.



• WiredSafety
  This site includes information on cell phone use and text messaging among teens, in addition to scores of articles of interest to every household with a computer. A great place to turn to for expert assistance, this site offers live, interactive help, a means for reporting cyber crimes, and an application called the Chat Translator that decodes popular acronyms.



• S.A.F.E. Alternatives
  The Self Abuse Finally Ends program has been dedicated to treating, educating, and helping self-injurers and their families since its founding in 1985. Operating as a professional network, S.A.F.E. Alternatives' official site provides referral information for 22 states, an extensive list of informative literature and journal articles, a Self Injury Facts page, a schedule of upcoming lectures and presentations, and information on its own nationally and internationally renowned treatment program.



• The Center for Parent/Youth Understanding
  Feeling disconnected from your teen? Building strong families and bridging generation gaps between parents and teens are just two of the goals of The Center for Parent/Youth Understanding, a nonprofit organization dedicated to guiding parents through the maze of adolescence. This site includes multimedia reviews, annotated reading lists, articles, live radio, and items related to online safety.



• Think U Know
  This site introduces the concepts of web safety in a playful way that kids will relate to. Fun, animated characters answer questions such as "What shouldn't I do if I meet someone in a chat room?" As kids play and learn, they are encouraged to enhance their experience with online safety by spreading their knowledge with friends.



• The National Children's Bureau (NCB)
  Based in the UK, the NCB promotes the physical and psychological well-being of children and young people -- with a particular focus on empowering them with the tools for self-actualization, confidence, and success. Its Young People and Self-Harm site provides detailed information on self-injury and includes resources for finding help and providing support.



• Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders, Inc. (ANRED)
  Recently, the Internet has been blamed for propagating information on eating disorders through sites that encourage "pro-ana" lifestyles. Learn more about the treatment and prevention of eating disorders and their closely associated self-harm behaviors at Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders, Inc. (ANRED), a nonprofit organization led by a group of dedicated doctors, psychiatrists, nurses and specialists.



• The Center for Adolescent and Family Studies
  Check out this site's Adolescence Directory On-Line (ADOL), where you'll find sections geared specifically for teens, parents, and counselors, along with resources related to mental and physical health, conflict resolution, and school-related topics.