For many of us, cutting hasn’t always been on the mainstream radar. It was something that was keep hidden– taboo, if you will.
But in recent years, cutting amongst teens is on the rise.
In fact, recent studies claim that 1 out of 5 teens hurt themselves. It includes: cutting 72%; self-hitting 30%; hair-pulling,22%; bone breaking 10% and burning 5%.
The figure is shocking and could just be dismissed as a random science study.
But unfortunately, that is not the case.
Yona Levin and Arielle Firestone (pictured above) are both 15. They have spoken to us about the rise and rise of young teens that they know currently cutting themselves, which in some ways, they say, has been a direct result of how young stars in Hollywood behave. They spoke out in an effort to educate other teenagers out there– that cutting to be cool, is not cool.
According to the girls, cutting is becoming so prevalent, that (just like the recent findings) they personally know 1 in 5 of their friends who are doing it, or who have tried it at some point in time.
“Before, people were depressed and didn’t know how to cope with it, but now celebrities walk around almost publicizing it, it makes it a new fad,” explains Arielle.
“When I was in 5th or 6th grade I heard about people doing it,” she says. “Now, I personally know kids who have cut themselves.”
Yona adds that it’s become so commonplace amongst teens that everyone knows someone who is doing it.
“Everyone has a friend who has done it or is doing it,” she says. “It’s now not abnormal to know someone who is cutting themselves.”
The pair both say that teens lack of role models isn’t helping the cause either.
“There’s almost a glorification from celebrities that it is ok to do it,” says Yona.
Just days ago, Miley Cyrus stepped out in L.A with evident marks on her wrist. And then there is Lindsay Lohan’s past escapades, where her publicist once infamously claimed Lohan fell into a bush as a means to explain the gashes on her lower arms.
The girls say that this sets a poor example for fans out there.
“It is like people want their marks to be seen as a cry for attention but also, it’s a blame game whereby they blame fans because they have too much attention,” says Yona. “But, stars should be thanking their fans for supporting them.”
When asked who represented good role models to impressionable young teens these days, the girls listed Emma Watson, Selena Gomez and Hilary Duff because none of the three have fallen by the Tinseltown wayside when they have had numerous opportunities presented to them to do so.
And the person they both admire the most? Demi Lovato.
“She admits and accepts that she has been through bad times and she is focused on staying positive and helping others,” they said.
Incidentally, Lovato has addressed the issue of cutting in the August issue of Self magazine.
“There were times I felt so anxious, almost like I was crawling out of my skin – that if I didn’t do something physical to match the way I felt inside, I would explode,” the X Factor judge, 19, says.
“I cut myself to take my mind off that. I just didn’t care what happened. I had no fear.”
Lovato, who checked into treatment to battle her “emotional issues”, has been a source of positivity since leaving rehab, trying to educate others who feel like it is their only escape from depression.
And what message do Yona and Arielle have for teenagers out there contemplating on jumping on the “fad” bandwagon?
“It’s not something that makes you cool– it is something serious and people need to understand that,” they say. “It’s not the answer; it’s not going to make you feel better about yourself– it’s going to leave you with scars, and worst case, you could die.”
ED’S NOTE: We are in no way claiming the Miley Cyrus inflicts self-harm upon herself.
What do you think?