Self Harm, Depression, and Suicide:

A friend of mine just got off the phone with me and told me to go to this You Tube Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=TdkNn3Ei-Lg

The title is “What’s Going On,” and it is heartbreaking. It worth the 4 minutes of your time. If you are a parent like me, you’ll never want to see your child in the pain that this boy is in.

Not everyone is a “Barbie or Ken” doll (am I dating myself? Ask your parents if you don’t get the reference. This video has been seen by over 7,000,000 people.

The boy does not speak. He holds up index cards, and points to places he has cut. He’s also crying.

If you know any children who may be suffering like this boy, talk to their parents (if you are not the one yourself), and get help for your troubled child or teenager.

As a psychotherapist who treats many teenagers who cut, I can tell you that I was surprised how this video got to me. Fortunately my sons are in grad schools, and never had these problems. But too many of our youth are suffering, and either parents ignore or don’t know what to do about it.

Call your local mental health clinic; ask your child’s pediatrician for the names of some excellent child and teenage therapists. But for the love of God please don’t pretend or avoid.

The consequences could be deadly.

Watch the video and write what you think about it.