Self-injury – also known as cutting, self-mutilation, and self-harm – is a serious problem for some teens. It involves cutting, scratching, burning or picking at skin or scabs on the skin. This self-destructive behavior may help some people express emotional stress, pain, or low self-esteem when talking about their feelings is difficult or if they feel that their experience of a situation was bad or wrong. Cutting is usually not intended as a suicide attempt, but can cause serious injury and even death. Cutting is usually a sign of an underlying emotional problem such as depression, eating disorder or abuse. It is important to get help to stop the behavior, treat the wounds and evaluate the cause of the behavior.