Page 486 - Štemberger Tina, Čotar Konrad Sonja, Rutar Sonja, Žakelj Amalija. Ur. 2022. Oblikovanje inovativnih učnih okolij. Koper: Založba Univerze na Primorskem
P. 486
ela Vunderl and Mitja Krajnčan
Tara and Ema still regularly hurt themselves. And XX does it only occa-
sionally, in crisis situations. The question arises, whether, despite professional
help, which was more efficient for ones and less for others, the girls did not
get appropriate help that would help them quit the self-harm behaviour. We
can conclude that the professionals were not successful with their methods
of treatment or that the adolescents were not willing to participate.
Help of a professional depends on many factors. The approaches that the
professionals use in their work are important. They must offer such help that
will be effective and will provide support to an individual. The problem of
professional help is also in the limited access to professional services. Slove-
nia has too few pedopsychiatrists, which can be a big problem when prob-
lems need to be solved quickly. The problem is also in insufficient awareness.
In elementary and secondary schools, it would be necessary to speak on the
topic of self-harm and thereby expose the severity of the problem also in
public. This will allow the adolescent to get to know the nature of their be-
haviour and develop the ways of self-help more easily. It would be impera-
tive to educate school education counsellors, teachers and health workers
on the methods of dealing with the adolescents and of further provision of
assistance.
Conclusion
The problem of self-harm needs to be addressed in its entirety, since in most
cases it points to deep-rooted problems in the family, where in most cases
alcohol, emotional abuse, physical abuse and sexual abuse of children are
present. We must be aware that the problem of self-harm is not only the
problem of adolescents, but it is rooted in the family from which the adoles-
cent comes. Emotional pain is an extremely complex concept. Each individ-
ual will confront it differently. The adolescents who have no solid foundation
in the family will not be able to cope with emotional pain. It is extremely im-
portant that we try to understand the adolescents who harm themselves and
learn about such behaviour from their point of view. Some hurt themselves
in order to divert negative thoughts away from the emotional clutter. They
know how to control the physical pain because it is manifested in exterior
pain. The problem is that it provides only a temporary relief to the adoles-
cents, which is pleasant or they even experience it as a pleasure. It is hard to
understand it by most people.
Let us conclude the final thoughts with the wish that self-harm should not
be a taboo topic, stereotype or prejudice. We should accept self-harm as a cry
for help. We must help the adolescents who find themselves in such a diffi-
486
Tara and Ema still regularly hurt themselves. And XX does it only occa-
sionally, in crisis situations. The question arises, whether, despite professional
help, which was more efficient for ones and less for others, the girls did not
get appropriate help that would help them quit the self-harm behaviour. We
can conclude that the professionals were not successful with their methods
of treatment or that the adolescents were not willing to participate.
Help of a professional depends on many factors. The approaches that the
professionals use in their work are important. They must offer such help that
will be effective and will provide support to an individual. The problem of
professional help is also in the limited access to professional services. Slove-
nia has too few pedopsychiatrists, which can be a big problem when prob-
lems need to be solved quickly. The problem is also in insufficient awareness.
In elementary and secondary schools, it would be necessary to speak on the
topic of self-harm and thereby expose the severity of the problem also in
public. This will allow the adolescent to get to know the nature of their be-
haviour and develop the ways of self-help more easily. It would be impera-
tive to educate school education counsellors, teachers and health workers
on the methods of dealing with the adolescents and of further provision of
assistance.
Conclusion
The problem of self-harm needs to be addressed in its entirety, since in most
cases it points to deep-rooted problems in the family, where in most cases
alcohol, emotional abuse, physical abuse and sexual abuse of children are
present. We must be aware that the problem of self-harm is not only the
problem of adolescents, but it is rooted in the family from which the adoles-
cent comes. Emotional pain is an extremely complex concept. Each individ-
ual will confront it differently. The adolescents who have no solid foundation
in the family will not be able to cope with emotional pain. It is extremely im-
portant that we try to understand the adolescents who harm themselves and
learn about such behaviour from their point of view. Some hurt themselves
in order to divert negative thoughts away from the emotional clutter. They
know how to control the physical pain because it is manifested in exterior
pain. The problem is that it provides only a temporary relief to the adoles-
cents, which is pleasant or they even experience it as a pleasure. It is hard to
understand it by most people.
Let us conclude the final thoughts with the wish that self-harm should not
be a taboo topic, stereotype or prejudice. We should accept self-harm as a cry
for help. We must help the adolescents who find themselves in such a diffi-
486
