Self-harm

People often self-harm to deal with difficult emotions. Moving away from self-harming as a way of coping can be a difficult process but you're not alone and there is help available.

Self-harm or self-injury is deliberately hurting yourself physically to deal with emotional distress.

People self-harm by:

  1. Cutting 
  2. Burning 
  3. Hitting 
  4. Bruising 
  5. Swallowing dangerous objects
  6. Deliberately taking non-fatal overdoses (this is called self-poisoning) 
  7. Hair pulling
  8. Compulsive skin picking

Eating disorders, abusing drugs or alcohol, smoking and taking risks can all be seen as forms of self-harm. On this page we're talking specifically about self-injury such as cutting and self-poisoning.

There are many reasons why someone may self-harm. It's a complex issue with complex causes. Some people self-harm as a way of handling difficult and strong emotions while other people self-harm when they feel numb so that they will feel something.

Triggers may include bullying, low self-esteem, depression, abuse, bereavement, problems with sex or sexuality, loneliness, discrimination and numerous other reasons.

This video from FirstSigns explains how a lot of people feel.

  1. It's attention seeking
  2. You're suicidal if you self-harm 
  3. You're just trying to be cool or an emo
  4. It's something that's part of being young and you'll grow out of it. 
  5. You're just copying your mates 
  6. You're a danger to others

A lot of people who self-harm keep it a secret. Talking about it may feel difficult at first but it is the first step towards recovery. You may feel very alone but you are not alone.

In the box on the right, there are some helpful websites and organisations that understand self-harm and can offer you support and understanding when you are ready to talk about it. You can always talk to us too and chat to other people in our community.

  1. Call a helpline
  2. Speak to, text or IM a friend 
  3. Write down your feelings
  4. Go for a run 
  5. Watch a DVD 
  6. Surf the net, go on your favourite social networking site or play a computer game 
  7. See if you can go 15 minutes without self-harming. When the 15 minutes are up try and go another 15 minutes. 
  8. Do something soothing like taking a hot bath

Of course it's not always that easy. Moving towards stopping self-harm is a process, but there is help and support out there to help you do it...

  1. Use clean instruments to cut and don't share instruments
  2. If you cut don't cut too deeply and only cut enough to relieve your distress 
  3. Wash and dress wounds immediately if they are shallow
  4. If it is a deep wound or bleeding profusely call 999 or go to Accident and Emergency (A & E). Thesite.org has a good page on what to expect at A & E. 
  5. Always have first aid information handy. Here's some first aid advice from the St Johns Ambulance on wounds and burns. There's also good information on self-harm websites, FirstSigns and Recover Your Life.
  6. If you have taken an overdose, go straight to A & E. 
  7. Don't drink or do drugs if you feel like hurting yourself
  1. See the person, and not the self-harm. They are still the same person they were before. 
  2. Acknowledge how bad they feel
  3. Don't take it personally
  4. Educate yourself about self-harm - the organisations on the right are a good place to start.
  5. Don't give ultimatums or take away the things they use to self-harm as this may make them hide the self-harm.
  6. Look after yourself and get support for yourself. Caring about someone who self-harms can be very worrying and stressful.

Read the friends and family section for more ideas about caring for someone in emotional distress.

Where to get help


Penumbra
Services for young adults affected by self-harm in various parts of Scotland 
Tel: 0131 475 2380

FirstSigns
FirstSigns (formerly LifeSigns) offer a variety of helpful resources, support and training to anyone affected by self-injury. 

Self-harm recovery, advice and support 
An information resource for young people who self-harm and their friends and family from thesite.org.

Bristol Crisis Service for Women 
A national UK service for women and girls who self-harm.
Tel: 0117 925 1119 (Friday and Saturdays - 9pm-12.30am Sundays 6pm-9pm) 
Text: 0780 047 2908 

National Self-Harm Network 
Self-harm helpline 0800 622 6000 available between 7-11PM seven days a week and an online support community