10 Ways to Avoid Self Harm

 Many people use self-harm as an outlet or diversion for the trauma or severe stress they are experiencing, especially during this time----COVID-19 period.

Although some people are aware that this act is dangerous and wrong, there are still many people who do not realize that self-harm is not the best way to manage their emotions and trauma.

However, the urge to self-harm can be prevented. The next time you feel the urge to grab something sharp to hurt yourself, please immediately do one of the things below to distract yourself from it.

1. Drink warm water.

2. Have a talk with your friends or your closest people.

3. Hold ice cubes.

4. Scribble paper.

5. Shower with cold water.

6. Write your feelings and situation you are in in the journal alongside with comforting words.

7. Tear a paper.

8. Keep sharp objects away from you.

9. Instead of hurting your hand using a sharp object, draw anything you like on your hand using a marker.

10. Prepare an “emergency box” filled with items that can distract you, such as your favorite items.

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Pay Attention to Your Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic

With many place closed and many important activities canceled, many of us miss some of the big moments in our lives — as well as everyday moments like chatting with friends and participating in school or workplace.

 We face this new situation not only with disappointment, but also with anxiety and a burdensome feeling of isolation, against the rapidly changing lives of the epidemic.

 According to an analysis of data provided by Unicef, as many as 99 percent of children and youth under 18 worldwide (2.34 billion) live in one of 186 countries with some form of movement restriction in place due to COVID-19.  As many as 60 per cent of children live in one of the 82 countries with full (7 per cent) or partial (53 per cent) lockdowns – which includes 1.4 billion young people.

 According to 2017 Global Health Data Exchange survey data, there are 27.3 million people in Indonesia experiencing mental health problems.  That is, one in ten people in this country suffer from mental health disorders.

 For the mental health data of adolescents in Indonesia alone in 2018, there was 9.8% the prevalence of emotional mental disorders with symptoms of depression and anxiety for adolescents aged > 15 years, an increase compared to 2013, only 6% for the prevalence of emotional mental disorders with symptoms of depression.  and anxiety for adolescents aged > 15 years.  Meanwhile, the prevalence of severe mental disorders such as schizophrenia in 2013 reached 1.2 per thousand people.

When our mental health is depressed, you can see signs such as looking uninspired, decreased appetite, disturbed sleep patterns/difficulty sleeping, and also excessive worry.

 What can be done to overcome adolescent mental health is to provide understanding for adolescents to be able to realize that their anxiety is normal.  Anxiety experienced by adolescents is a normal and healthy function that can alert us to threats, and help us take action to protect ourselves.

 Seeking correct information from trusted sources, reducing playing social media, and limiting watching/viewing news about the Corona Virus can also reduce the anxiety. As much as possible we also can talk with our closest people. 

Not talking too much about the Corona Virus or looking for a diversion with fun activities and productive things also can reduce our anxiety and make us feel less burdened.

Contact friends or your closest people to establish communication, share stories and your feelings with them. That way, we can released our boredom during the pandemic.

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