Self harm

Self-harm is when people set out to harm themselves deliberately, sometimes in a secret way. Self-harm can include cutting, burning, bruising or poisoning, but does not usually mean that someone wants to commit suicide. Self harm help and support is available from us, anytime you feel like hurting yourself.

How do people self-harm?

There are many ways that people self-harm. These might include:

• Cutting or scratching.
• Causing bruises.
• Banging heads against walls.
• Pulling out hair.
• Burning.
• Falling over.
• Breaking an arm or leg.

Why do people self-harm?

Self-harm is a sign of stress and is often caused by a different problem such as bullying or abuse. People might self-harm because it's a way of releasing tension or anger. It's a physical pain that they can deal with, rather than an emotional feeling that is hard to cope with. It is also a way of controlling something, especially if they feel that other parts of their life are out of control.

If people are not helped to stop self-harming, there is a risk that their urge to hurt themselves could grow into a stronger wish to end their lives.

I want to cut myself, what can I do?

If you are feeling like you want to hurt yourself in some way, or you have already started to self-harm, it may be helpful to get support by talking to someone you trust about what's wrong, such as a parent, teacher or your doctor. You can call us at any time to talk about your problems, especially when you feel like you might self-harm. Tackling the cause of the problem will help stop you feeling like you want to hurt yourself.

You might find it helpful to try some of these things when you are feeling like you might self-harm:

• Write down your negative feelings on a piece of paper and rip it up.
• Keep a book or diary of feelings.
• Do something physical like running or swimming, or making a lot of noise.
• Call a friend and talk to them.

You can talk to us any time you feel out of control or that you might self-harm. We will be here anytime you feel like hurting yourself and you can talk to us about anything.