Just found that mi niece is cutting herself

[connie0001]

I just finished a conversation over the phone with my niece who is in South America and she started asking questions about a friend who suppose to be cutting herself. After asking and asking, she finally said that it was her, that she has done it 4 times and sent me a picture of her wrist with a scar. Said that she does it when she feels overwhelmed with worries and problems. She is 13. Brilliant and smart.  Come from a dysfunctional family where my brother, her father divorced her mother, because the mother cheated on him and now has a baby with another men. My niece and her brother who is older and has a different father,  lived through all of this nasty divorce . My brother has issues himself with depression and anxiety and used to drink .  I am afraid that not only with the problem between the parents, my niece has inherited these condition from the father.   On top of that, she was very close to the brother, who left her home and came to live in USA with his biological father. My niece feels left alone, nobody loves her, my brother does not talk to her, because in his head he feels betrayed by the daughter also who wants to stay with the Mom .  Anyway, my niece once talked to the counselor  in school, and the counselor called her mother, her mother got extremely upset at my niece .  My nice has made me promise her not to tell anybody because her mom would think that she is crazy and my brother will be upset too.  Here I am in USA, far from her and extremely worried. I told her to get rid of the razor she has in her room and to call me  anytime she feels bad, I reassured her that she is loved by everybody and I will help her. She cried and said that felt a relief now that told me and trusted me.    I am a healthcare professional myself . I am a physical therapist , know that she needs help but do not know how to handle this situation, being that far.  I would love to hear from people who has had experiences with teenagers who had done it.  I am deciding to bring my niece to USA for her summer vacation from school to stay with me. Maybe here I can help her more.  I really appreciate your input.   Connie

[Jinx_777]

i used to be a 'cutter' too and i went to GREAT lengths to hide it from people.  wore long sleeved shirts, only cut in places i could hide, etc.  
i feel (from my experience) the ones who tell people or do it in places where people can see are doing it for attention and not the usual reasons 'cutters' do it.
i am sure that there are exceptions, but i think she is seeking attention any way she can get it.  imo,, that can be more dangerous than someone like me.  
i would suggest to your brother to get her into counseling and family counseling as well

[capewind]

I have this history myself and recovered after being able to process my Traumas.
Important to get Trauma Informed help. Also see if there is a Peer recovery Program or Learning community nearby. Learning from peers who have been there and learned alternatives to recovery from Adverse Events and mental and emotional distress. transformation-center.org    serlc.org in my area yet in many states, otherwise meds and could increase symptoms or make sick.  Best of luck and educate yourself so you don't judge and misunderstand her needs and wants for healing. Wellness and peace to you both.