Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials Podcast

How To Respond When Teens Self-Harm with Zeyd Khan, MD

·21 min·2 clips

One in five teens injure themselves, a number that surged to over 27% during the pandemic.

The episode begins with host John Horton introducing the topic of teen self-harm, noting its prevalence and the shock it can cause. Dr. Zeyd Khan, an adolescent psychiatrist, joins to discuss the issue. He confirms that studies show around 20% of teens self-harm, with recent data indicating an increase to over 27% during the early pandemic years. Dr. Khan describes common methods like cutting, scratching, burning, and head-banging, and mentions that teens often conceal injuries under clothing or with accessories. He introduces the clinical term 'non-suicidal self-injury' to define intentional, non-socially acceptable bodily damage without suicidal intent. The discussion explores why teens self-harm, citing factors like personality, adverse childhood events, school stress, cyberbullying, and societal pressures, especially on marginalized groups like non-binary and transgender youth. Dr. Khan explains that self-harm allows teens to externalize internal pain, sometimes providing relief but often leading to guilt or shame. He notes that disinhibition and high-intensity negative moods are key predictors. A critical point is that non-suicidal self-injury is a strong predictor of suicide attempts, with 70% of those who self-harm attempting suicide and 55% attempting multiple times. Dr. Khan advises parents who discover self-harm to be curious and non-judgmental, ask about frequency and suicidal thoughts, and seek immediate emergency care if suicidal intent is present. He recommends starting with a pediatrician for referrals to therapists or psychiatrists. Resources mentioned include the Crisis Text Line, NAMI Greater Cleveland, and a book by Dr. Tatiana Falcone. Dr. Khan stresses that self-harm peaks in early adolescence and that having one trusted adult is a major protective factor. The episode concludes with a call to action for parents to model healthy coping and strengthen relationships.

As heard by us

A calm, clinically grounded guide to teen self-harm, its warning signs, and what adults should do next.

Teen self-harm can look alarming from the outside, and this PlayNext review frames the Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials conversation as a steady, useful primer on what can sit beneath it.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

When a teenager's pain shows up as self-harm, you get a steadier way to respond.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials Podcast