Bizarre cases of students intentionally injuring themselves continues to be a problem in county schools.

Termed “cutting,” the phenomenon is a type of self-injury in which teenagers may cut themselves on their wrists, arms, legs and bellies with razors or improvised devices such as erasers. When the cuts or burns heal, they often leave scars.

A Cornell Study by researcher Janice Whitlock estimates cutting occurs among 10 percent of secondary students and 25 percent of college students. County schools have seen a marked increase in cutting among students since 2008.

The Cherokee County School District recently held a staff training event so mental health counselors, social workers and other community agencies could provide schools with resources for dealing with student behavioral issues like cutting, said Kathy Phillips, district coordinator of the Drug-Free and Safe Schools programs. About 90 school administrators, school nurses and guidance counselors attended the training.

“We felt it would be good to bring community agencies and school staff together so our schools would know about the resources available in our community to help deal with students deal with problems they are facing,” Phillips said.

The P.A.C.E Center in Spartanburg has received a grant to provide a parttime counselor in Cherokee County. The mental health center provides a variety of programs and services such as individual and family counseling, mental health children’s programs, and suicide prevention.

“We have been looking for a way to provide mental health services in a way that is more accessible to county residents,” P.A.C.E. Center Executive Director Beth Summer-Strait said. “We are excited about receiving this grant. It will allow us to provide more counseling and services in Cherokee County.”