Some teens post self-harm videos on YouTube to express themselves, educate others

By Staff Writer

A recent study reveals a troubling new trend of teenagers posting self-harm videos on YouTube.

The report, which will appear in the March issue of Pediatrics, was conducted by psychology experts at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada. Researchers searched for the top 100 most-viewed videos about self-injury, and many of the clips featured teens.

Approximately 64 percent of the videos were about cutting, and about 42 percent warned viewers that the images may cause other cutters to try new ways to injure themselves. More than half of the top 100 self-harm videos were intended to be factual or educational, 23 percent were encouraging and 16 percent were hopeful.

The study's authors said that kids who harm themselves and then post it on YouTube are typically not interested in committing suicide, but instead use cutting as a way to cope with mental health problems such as depression and anxiety, as well as a way to express themselves in front of a large audience online.

Teens who harm themselves may benefit from boarding schools, which aim to help teens build confidence and overcome stress with positive coping mechanisms.