It's an increasing trend and medical professionals say many parents aren't aware it.

Self injury is something teens and young adults are doing as a result of depression, control issues or to get attention.

Scarification, branding, cutting and burning are all types are coping skills. While some people use positive coping skills, professionals say an increasing number of teens and young adults are turning to self injury.

Augusta County resident Sharon Lawrence is raising her three grandchildren.

Just recently Lawrence's 13-year-old granddaughter, an eighth grader at Beverly Manor Middle School, told Lawrence she was cutting herself with things like push pins and pen caps.

"Told us, 'How much do you pay attention to me?' And I said, 'Well, I think I pay pretty good attention.' And she said, 'Apparently you don't.' Then she rolled up her long sleeve and showed us her arm," says Lawrence.

Looking into her granddaughter's cell phone, Lawrence says she realized it's affecting other teens in the area as well.

"And she had wrote on there 'I've cut myself x amount of times, how many times have you cut yourself,'" quotes Lawrence.

Dr. Gina Marie Dattilo, who works with the Valley Community Services Board, says if one teen is doing it, it's usually a group, and it can almost become a contest.

"And it used to be just that it would just be. You would think of white teenage girls doing it. Now it's preteens are doing it, kids from any race, any ethnic group, and both genders," says Dattilo.

Dattilo says communicating with your children and observing any behavioral changes are helpful.

"If you notice things like in the summertime, they're always wearing long shirts and they never used to. If you're noticing scratches and things, and they're always saying, 'Oh yeah, the cat did that to me,'" says Dattilo.

After receiving specialized self injury help at a hospital in Lynchburg, Lawrence says her granddaughter's already showing improvement.

"It's been a struggle, but it's been an eye-opener too. And it's something I want other parents to see before they have a kid that does this," says Dattilo.

The Valley Community Services Board says receiving specialized help is very important.

Dattilo says you have to learn how to deal with your problems in an effective manner, and if self injury is effective for a child, they'll keep doing it, even if it's later on in life.

The Valley Community Services Board says, if you suspect your child is performing self injury, you should ask them. That will let them know you care and that you are trying to help them.