Self Harm
People self-harm for different reasons.
They might self-harm as a way of dealing with something difficult that is happening or has happened to them in the past. Or they might not know why they’re hurting themselves. Even if you don’t understand why you’re self-harming, you’re not alone and you can still get help.
Some reasons young people self-harm include:
- living with health problems – like a physical health problem or an illness
- living with a mental health problem – or experiences linked with poor mental health, like anger or hearing voices
- living with conditions like ADHD or autism
- stressful or upsetting experiences – like relationship problems, losing a loved one, bullying, abuse or money worries
- intrusive thoughts – thoughts that you don’t want but keep coming to you
- problems with how you feel about yourself – like experiencing racism or homophobia, questioning your sexuality or identity, having low self-esteem or body image worries
- self-harm feeling ‘normal’ among your peers
- seeing images of self-harm online
- drinking alcohol or taking drugs.
Young people also told us they self-harm because they want to:
- show how they feel without speaking
- be distracted from how they’re feeling
- cope with, or escape from, painful feelings, thoughts or memories
- punish themselves for something
- stop feeling disconnected from themselves or the world
- create a reason to look after themselves, like caring for wounds
- manage thoughts of suicide.
It’s ok if you don’t know why you’re self-harming.
For more information and where you can get help, click on any of the following links:
Mind
Kooth
Childline
https://www.childline.org.uk/?scrlybrkr=54dfb923
NHS
