1 2 3 4 5 6 

Depressed Over Sexual Abuse

Jamie said she was depressed, in part, because of past incidents involving sexual abuse by nonfamily members. Soon, she was regularly slicing her arms and legs with razor blades, glass and knives.

"I was mad at myself. I blamed myself--I was punishing myself," she said. "I'd feel better for about 15 minutes afterward. I probably went 50 times to the hospital. The guy at the emergency room knew my name. He'd ask, 'Is there anything we can do? No? OK, goodbye.'"

San Dimas resident Rikki Valade said it was heart-wrenching to see her daughter harm herself. "Her therapist said to be supportive and not make a big deal out of it. It was very frustrating watching her do it," said Valade, who placed her daughter at Vista del Mar in part because of the self-injury therapy program.

1 2 3 4 5 6