Often wrongly judged as a suicide attempt or attention-seeking, self-harm affects way more people than you might think. Mostly affecting teenagers,10% or at least two young people in every secondary school classroom have self-harmed at some point.
Self-harm describes any behaviour where someone causes harm to themselves, usually as a way to help cope with feelings, they don't know how to express. Others do so to dissociate from their problems and distract themselves from emotional pain. And even though self-harm might give temporary relief from the emotional pain the person is feeling, it’s important to know that this relief is only temporary because the underlying reasons still remain. Soon after, feelings of guilt and shame might follow, which can continue the cycle.
While there isn't such thing as a typical young person who self-harms, there are factors that make some people more likely to self-harm than others because of things that have happened in their lives. Some factors that might make someone more at risk are:
- Experience of a mental health disorder. This might include depression, anxiety, borderline personality disorder, and eating disorders.
- Being a young person who is not under the care of their parents, or young people who have left a care home.
- Being part of the LGBT community.
-Having been bereaved by suicide.
It is important to remember that although these are risk factors that can make someone more likely to self-harm, having any of these does not mean someone will self-harm. Similarly, someone who self-harms might not experience any of these. Anyone can be affected. Someone’s reason to self-harm can be very different from other people who self-harm. Some of the reasons that young people report as triggers or reasons that lead them to self-harm include difficulties at home, arguments or problems with friends, school pressure, bullying, depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, transitions and changes, such as changing schools and alcohol and drug use.
There are many ways in which a young person can engage in self-injury behaviours, but the most common are cutting, burning and hitting, scratching or picking scabs (to prevent wounds from healing), overdosing on medication and pulling out hair, eyelashes, or eyebrows with the intention of hurting.
If you are experiencing difficult issues in your life, there is support available.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help whenever and however you need to. Talking to someone is often the first step to getting out of the cycle. Health professionals, GPs and teachers are familiar with this issue and are there to help.
For advice on how to stop self-harming, visit this website or reach out to Self Injury Support. You can also call 116 123, available 24 hours a day, providing for emotional support, if you are experiencing feelings of distress, despair or suicidal thoughts.
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