hurting self, my friend Options

[love-issosweet]

Well, I have a good friend who has pretty abusive (emotional and physical) parents from what he told me. They hit him, yell at him, not allowing him to eat and/or, and making him do constant chores that sometimes he almost faints. These problems basically just brings him down and being the person he is, he takes it really hard. Instead, to make those problems go away, he tries to hurt himself such as cutting, whacking himself, punching the school walls and ends up bleeding, and more. My other friends and I have been telling him to quit and that talking helps, not pain. He always responds that we don't need to worry about him and that he's fine and obviously, he's lying. I have been considering a therapist or a school conselor but then again, I'm not quite sure. He seems fine and happy like everyone else usually at school. But when on instant message and during night time, when his parents are home, his mood just dies. I just need some advice for what to do. Thanks :]

[aera]

child services...

at my school, we have some program where we have these forms in the counselor's office and we fill it out if we're concerned about a friend. then the teachers do some investigating (secretly) and if they find something, the school steps in.