Reports in Maryland say that seven elementary school children have slit their wrists in Prince George County.
According to WUSA9, they took blades out of pencil sharpeners and cut themselves at school. Police said the incident took place before spring break.
What the heck is going on with kids these days? Police in Maryland say seven elementary school students slit their wrists after pulling metal blade out of pencil sharpener. The cuts were not severe enough to call 911, but still. WHY????https://t.co/p2tTWolGu1 pic.twitter.com/b6iidhFolc
— Judd Davis (@BamaJD) April 18, 2018
After that, a crisis counseling team came to the school and worked with the families of the children who were involved in the incident, the station reported on April 18.
The school nurse said that the cuts didn’t seem to be severe.
Officials haven’t yet released additional information, citing the students’ privacy.
7 elementary school students at William Paca Elementary School in Price George's County in Maryland slit their wrists in response to alleged bullying before Spring Break. A team of crisis counselors are working with the families of the kids who self harmed. #2150CC https://t.co/Q7aQdou2ew
— Ziv Rosenberg (@zivrosenberg) April 17, 2018
The incident happened at William Paca Elementary School, Patch.com reported, which added that none of the children were hospitalized due to the cuts.
It’s also not clear if the incident had anything to do with bullying.
Dr. Christina E. Casci, a therapist, told WUSA9 that for the parents, it’s important to talk to children about what happened
“It’s important to have open communication with your children about what occurred. Discuss what happened and their thoughts and feelings surrounding this event. Make sure your children know you’re there for them as a support during this difficult time,” she said. “Carve out some time to engage in one or more family activities. Go to the park, take your child out for a meal or do something that they particularly enjoy.”
She added: “Normalize their feelings if they’re struggling with what happened. Let them know they’re not alone in feeling this way and that others are also having a difficult time.”
“Don’t hesitate to reach out to mental health professionals if you feel your child needs additional supports. Therapists are trained specifically to handle these situations and the school will likely offer clinical support free of charge. Psychology Today’s website is also a great resource to locate a therapist and will have listed whether a therapist is in network with your insurance provider.”
Other details about the case were not disclosed.
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