Self-harm

If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, call the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) crisis team immediately on 0800 516171 or 999. They are available 24/7 and will support you through your crisis.

What is self-harm?

Self-harm is when someone hurts themselves on purpose. Examples of self-harm include cutting, burning, poisoning, hitting, scratching and bruising. Other forms of more indirect self-harm may be self-neglect or excessive risk-taking behaviour. Someone who is self-harming might be dealing with lots of intense thoughts and feelings, and hurting themselves may feel like the only way to cope. Or, they might feel numb and hurt themselves in order to feel something.

Self-harming behaviour is relatively common – at least 10% of adolescents report having self-harmed – and it can affect anyone of any age, background or race. But it needs to be taken seriously.

Self-harm is not a positive way to deal with difficult feelings and experiences, and over time it can become a habit that is hard to stop. That’s why it’s so important to spot it as soon as possible and do everything you can to help.

Why does someone self-harm?

Self-harm is a very different experience for each individual, and is usually a way of coping with difficult feelings and experiences. There is no one reason why people self-harm. It can be a way of:

• Helping someone to feel more in control
• Reducing tension
• Releasing powerful emotions
• Relieving overwhelming thoughts and feelings that build up inside
• Providing a feeling of physical pain to distract from emotional pain
• Expressing emotions such as hurt, anger or frustration

Self-harm can may be a way of coping with situations such as:

• Anxiety, low mood, low self-esteem, trauma, poor body image, gender identity, sexuality, abuse
• Friendship or college problems, bullying, social media pressure, peer pressure, rejection
• Family problems such as separation or conflict, unrealistic expectations and bereavement

Although the majority of people use self-harm as a way of dealing with life – not as a way of wanting to end their own life – people who have self-harmed are at more risk of taking their own life. Many people will have thoughts of suicide – and they can feel really scary – but the vast majority don’t go on to take these thoughts any further.

If you are struggling with thoughts of suicide, please reach out and talk. There is always help and support available!

What can help?

Supporting your child with self-harm

If your child is struggling with self-harm, click on the link to find out how you can support them and places you can get help.

https://www.youngminds.org.uk/parent/parents-a-z-mental-health-guide/self-harm/

References

• Every-life-matters.org.uk
• Youngminds.org.uk