SELF HARM

Self-harm is any behaviour that involves someone putting themselves at risk of being hurt in some way either through deliberately injuring themselves or by putting themselves in dangerous situations. Examples can include cutting or otherwise inflicting injuries but may also include failing to take prescribed medications or follow recommendations from health professionals. Self-harm has become increasingly common in the UK in recent years especially amongst young people, both males and females. It can happen for lots of different reasons but is most often used as a way of expressing distress or releasing difficult emotions that can feel too hard to talk about. Many people describe the feeling after self-harming as a release, although it is often then accompanied by guilt, which can make any low or distressing feelings even worse in the long term. If you are struggling with self-harm, then help is available, both through services but also through self-help resources.

To Find Out More… The National Self Harm Network provides support and we particularly like the distractions leaflet which you can get to directly by clicking here.