How to help that troubled teen you love

A cry for help

^{by Rob Kerby, Senior Editor}

What should you do when that teen you love begins destructive behavior? One of the worst these days is "cutting," a form of self-mutilation, rampant among both male and female kids. They use sharp objects ranging from pencils or razors to inflict self-harm, commonly on their arms and legs, observes Nick Hall, founder of PULSE, one of America’s fastest-growing youth outreaches. “To the cutter, this action evokes an outward pain that gives expression to inward torment. Often, cutting coincides with suicidal thoughts and is a precursor to ending one’s life.” Hall offers advice for parents whose children are displaying this increasingly common phenomenon, including: