2b1 - First I want to say I'm sorry about the difficult time that both you and your son are going through. It can be really rough knowing that someone you love so much is hurting themselves, and not loving themselves as much as you think they deserve. If I were you, I'd be completely open and honest with him. Don't corner him or make him talk, that could scare him. Maybe call and make a therapist appointment for him, and then let him know later. Let him know you understand that he's going through a very difficult time and things must be really rough for him. Slip him the card with the appointment on it, say it's up to him if he wants to go or not. Things like that. That's what I'd do, but we are all different and I'm sure you know what would/wouldnt work for you and your son much better than I.

But I also want to say that I am too a "grade A" student. I have wonderful friends, my parents are together, I go to a great and respected university...however these are also traits of a typical self-injurer. Please please please don't blame yourself for this. That's a reason I never told my parents, because I knew that they would blame themselves 110% and nothing I could say or do would convince them that it wasn't their fault. It only makes the self-injurer feel much MUCH worse to know that they are hurting someone they love - which is usually what they are avoiding in the first place.

I sincerly hope that you and your son can work something out. He's incredibly lucky to have a mother like you that cares so much and is so understanding...