"The emotional education my daughter received was not enough."
The school alerted Mireia that her daughter was self-harming after she told her teacher. The news came as a shock to this mother, who at that moment couldn't understand why her daughter had decided to hurt herself. "You see the cuts and you don't know how to react, you try to stay strong in front of her, but then you break down. It's very hard, it's like I'm being torn apart inside," she shared, her voice filled with emotion.
This mother describes her daughter as a studious, responsible girl who played sports and went out with her friends... until the pandemic hit and, like for many teenagers, disrupted her life and caused her emotional distress, which she had been carrying due to bullying at school . "Her first cut was unintentional, but it brought her relief." And from then on, more self-harm and other mental health problems followed, including an eating disorder. "Then you realize that the emotional education she received at school and at home hadn't done any good."
Mireia sought information and professional help to understand that self-harm was a way for her daughter to cope with the distress and suffering she was experiencing. Now, after this experience, she advocates for "more open communication about self-harm and mental health" and for schools "to have more information so as not to stigmatize or isolate children and teenagers who engage in this behavior."
What can I do if my son or daughter self-harms?
Mireia Hernández is the mother of a teenager who self-harms. Through her valuable testimony, she shares her experiences, what this situation has meant for her family, and the emotions felt throughout the process. Her story helps us understand the role and importance of family when non-suicidal self-harm or any other mental health issue arises.
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