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How Serious a Problem Are Cutting and Self-Injury Among Teens?
self-harm among young black women was 10.3
per 1,000 people, compared with 6.6 per 1,000
people in the white population. “To our knowl-
edge,” says lead investigator Jayne Cooper, “this
is the first study to show significantly higher
rates of self-harm in young black females across
a number of cities using large population-based
databases.”
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Cooper adds that the results did
not provide clear knowledge as to why young
black females had higher rates of self-harming
behavior.
A Persistent Problem
Although mental health specialists report that self-injury is a formidable
problem, the exact number of teens who self-harm is unknown to health
officials. Studies have shown, however, that it is a problem not only in
the United States but in countries throughout the world. As research
continues, and teens who self-injure feel freer to speak openly about it,
this may enable health officials to more accurately determine how many
young people engage in the practice. Armed with that information, men-
tal health specialists may be in a better position to prevent it.
[T]he exact
number of
teens who
self-harm
is unknown
to health
officials.
“
”
