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What is self harm?

“Self-harm is when somebody intentionally damages or injures their body. It is a way of coping with or expressing overwhelming emotional distress.” (NHS, 2013)

Self-harm is a way of expressing very deep distress and often, people do not know why they self-harm. It's a means of communicating what can't be put into words or even into thoughts and has been described as an inner scream. Afterwards, people feel better able to cope with life again, for a while.

People may injure or poison themselves by scratching, cutting or burning their skin, by hitting themselves against objects, taking a drug overdose, or swallowing or putting other things inside themselves. It may also take less obvious forms, including unnecessary risks, staying in an abusive relationship, developing an eating problem (such as anorexia or bulimia), being addicted to alcohol or drugs, or someone simply not looking after their own emotional and physical needs.

Why do some people self harm?
Self harming, for some people, can be a coping mechanism to deal with their inner feelings and emotions for example, rage sadness, emptiness, grief, self hatred/guilt, fear, loneliness. Self-harm could be for a number of reasons such as, a way of releasing pain out, or being distracted from inner self pain instead of communicating the feelings to somebody else. Other reasons for self harm may be that some may find it a comfort from feeling the pain as though they are being punished, a sense of self-punishment, and a try in gaining some control over their own life. People who self-harm often cover up what they are doing rather than draw attention to it. Mind, 2012

Changes in behaviour

When people self harm there is usually a change in their behaviour for example, they may start missing school or college a lot more than they should, not going out with friends or family, isolating and excluding themselves from social activities, pushing friends & family away from them, becoming very sad and angry or even aggressive, they might start to take drugs and drink on a regular basis and this could lead to them getting into trouble with the police.

What do some people think of those who self harm?

Some people think that its attention seeking and annoying.

People don’t understand why people self harm, unless they have been through it themselves.

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Symptoms of people who self harm

Some symptoms of people who self harm can be; taking too many tablets, cutting them self, burns to the body, banging their head, throwing their body against something hard, punching them self, sticking things into your body and swallowing objects. BBC health, 2012

Treatments available

There are many self-help groups that people with similar problems also attend and are available to give each other support and practical advice – believe it or not, sharing problems in a group does help and

‘A problem shared is a problem halved!’

• Group therapy can often help you sort out difficulties in getting on with other people. Talking therapies - including problem solving, cognitive behavioural therapy or psychodynamic psychotherapy - can all help. Some evidence suggests that problem-solving therapy may be beneficial too. BBC Health, 2012:1

Support
What can I do if I know someone who self-harms? • Listen to them without being critical. This can be very hard if you're upset or angry, but try to focus on them rather than your feelings. • Try to understand their feelings, and then move the conversation to other things. • Take the mystery out of self-harm by helping them find out more on the internet or at the library. • Help them to think about their self-harm not as a shameful secret, but as a problem to be sorted out. BBC Health, 2012:1

“Useful organisations
There are a number of organisations you can contact that offer support and advice for people who self-harm, as well as their friends and families. These include: • Samaritans – call 08457 90 90 90, email:jo@samaritans.org or visit your local branch • Mind – call 0300 123 3393 • Harmless – email info@harmless.org.uk
Find more mental health helplines.” (NHS 2013)