Dr Alicia Porter, Board member of the South African Society of Psychiatrists

Do you have any experience with self-harm - has your child been associated with it or do you know someone else who has?     Interview| In an ever-changing world where teenagers and young adolescents are increasingly confronted with new challenges, peer pressure, demanding relationships and the like, the growing phenomenon of self-harm as a means of regulating their emotions comes as no surprise. You little or teen might be self-harming and you might not even know.   Statistical analysis of over 50 empirical studies reporting on the prevalence of Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI) in adolescents across the globe, show that 18% of these adolescents engage in NSSI   According to the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG), non-suicidal self-injury is "more common than people realize. It is the only coping skill some people have when they feel emotionally overwhelmed. Frequently mistaken for a suicidal gesture or failed suicide attempt, it is not intended to kill; it keeps people alive in the face of intolerable mental pain or provides time out from stressful situations."   Guest: Dr Alicia Porter, Board member of the South African Society of Psychiatrists