Ask Sam letter

Hi there,

Knowing when and how to get help and support is an important first step and doesn’t mean you aren't getting better ⁠— it’s the right thing to do.

For many people, self-harm is a coping mechanism and managing to stop that for any length of time is a great achievement. It can take lots of strength to stop anything you’re used to doing and that means it’s not unusual for people to struggle for a while afterwards.

It can help to have some coping mechanisms that replace self-harm as well as ones that can distract you. Everyone is different, so thinking about what things have helped so far can really help. There are also lots of distraction ideas to look through in our Coping Kit.

Being aware of what could trigger you means you can try to avoid those things, and preparing a safety plan is a good way of looking after yourself. That could include things like not reading or watching things online or on tv that could be triggering.

However, some things are unavoidable, so having different ideas in place in case you’re triggered is important. That might be talking to someone you trust, speaking to one of our counsellors or doing something you enjoy like listening to music or drawing.

As well as doing this, it’s always okay to ask for help. Being able to recognise any change in your mental health is a positive step and you should never wait until things get really difficult. Getting support as soon as someone recognises signs that they’re struggling is the best way to make sure things don’t get worse.

There are many different options when getting support. You can speak to a trusted adult, a teacher or you could visit your doctor. You can also speak to one of our counsellors at any time, and our message boards are a great way to talk to other young people who can share the things that help them cope.

Hope this helps.

Take care,

Sam