Self-harm

Self -harm is when you hurt yourself or engage in behaviour that damages your health intentionally.  The intention is often to punish yourself, express your distress or relieve unbearable tension.  Sometimes it can be a mixture of all three.  Self -harm is a way of coping.

Why do people self-harm?

When people self-harm, it is usually the result of another problem.  It can happen if you are feeling anxious, depressed, stressed or bullied and you feel that you don’t know any other ways of dealing with these issues.  It is often referred to as the ‘silent scream’.

What to do about self-harm?

If you are affected by self-harming, try to talk to someone you trust about how you are feeling.  If you don’t feel able to confide in anyone talk to your GP.  They may be able to refer you to the right people who can help you deal with your issues.

When you are feeling emotions that you are finding difficult to cope with and you feel that you need to self-harm, try to find other ways to cope and feel in control.

Things that can help:

• Listening to music
• Talking to friends and family
• Writing or drawing how you feel
• Exercising and getting outdoors
• Hold an ice cube tightly in your hand
• Put an elastic band around your wrist & pull it