The Wisconsin Office of Children’s Mental Health have created an informative fact sheet to help outline the concerning increase in self harm behavior for girls aged 10-19 in Wisconsin.

They encourage parents/ caregivers, coaches, mentors, and caring adults to check in with girls around particularly stressful academic times and note that self-harm spikes in September and January during return to school periods.

As we head into the holidays, it signals a longer than usual break from typical routines for students. This in turn can potentially mean less in-person connection outside the family. For 10-19 year old girls, social development is crucial as it shapes their sense of identity, self-esteem, and ability to form healthy relationships, which are critical for navigating adolescence, managing emotions, and ultimately thriving in adulthood; during this period, girls actively explore their place in peer groups, develop romantic relationships, and learn important social skills like empathy, communication, and conflict resolution, all contributing to their overall well-being.

So, it is important for families and schools to work together to check in, connect and potentially reach out to families if things seem unusual. We’ve included the fact sheet from our partners at WI OCMH to help;

Not from Wisconsin? What are the statistics in your state? Look to the Department of Health in your state for public health rankings and reach out to your state ROTA-R office if you’d like Technical Assistance!