Self Harm

What is Self-Harm or Self-Injury?

Self-injury can be defined as "Deliberate damaging of body tissue without the conscious attempt to commit suicide”.

There are many reasons why someone may self-harm, and it is simplistic to assume that the individual who injures himself is "attention seeking". Much of self-harm is hidden, and whilst some people may hurt themselves to communicate their distress to others, this is only one of the possible motivations. Self-harm can be a strategy to cope with unbearable emotional/ psychological pain, a way to survive, to release overwhelming emotion, to punish self, to gain some control when feeling out of controls, to re-gain feelings when numb or disassociated, and can have many functions.

Self-harm is commonly associated with the following mental health issues:

  • Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
  • Dissociative Identity Disorder (Multiple Personality)
  • Eating Disorders
  • Substance Dependency
  • Clinical Depression
  • Personality Disorders 

Well-known people affected by self-harm

Listen to the beautiful song "Breathe Me" by the Australian singer Sia Furler, referring to her own experience of self-harm.

Other well-known people affected by self-harm include:
Diana, Princess of Wales
Kelly Holmes, UK athlete
Brad Pitt, US actor
Angelina Jolie, US actress
 
Self-help strategies for self-harm
 
Click here for a list of ideas and alternative activities that you can use if you want to prevent yourself from injuring self. Some of these activities may simply act as distracters, others have a soothing and healing effect, some allow to express overwhelming emotions safely, and some others allow to experience a limited degree of physical pain without actually causing injury.
 
 

Sources of information and support

Better Services for People Who Self-Harm Project www.rcpsych.ac.uk/snapsurveys/selfharmsurveyuser offers an anonymous questionnaire for people who have self-harmed, about the quality of the treatment they received.

Bristol Crisis Service for Women www.selfinjurysupport.org.uk is a national organisation that supports girls and women in distress, in particular those who self harm. Tel: 0117 927 9600.

National Self-Harm Network (NSHN) www.nshn.co.uk is a charity providing resources and information for people who self-injure, as well as the health professionals, friends, relatives and advocates.

Parentline Plus www.parentlineplus.org.uk is a charity that works for, and with, parents, providing information and signposting; the website includes some information on self-harm. Tel: 0808 800 2222. 

Samaritans www.samaritans.org provide a telephone and email support helpline for anyone in distress or dispair. Tel: 08457 90 90 90, email: jo@samaritans.org

SASH (Survivors of Abuse and Self-Harm) www.freewebs.com/sashpenfriend  is a pendfriend network which provides support to those who find it difficult to communicate face to face or by telephone, and prefer to do so in writing. Postal address: 20 Lackmore Road, Enfield, Middlesex, EN1 4PB

Self Injury And Related Issues www.siari.co.uk is an information site maintained by a counsellor and trainer Jan Sutton. 

Survivors UK www.survivorsuk.org is a charity offering help for men who have been sexually abused or raped. Tel: 0845 1221201.