Self-harm

Please be mindful that this the information below includes information that you may find difficult or distressing to think about. Looking after yourself and your emotional wellbeing is vital. Please see the ‘looking after yourself’ section below for tips and support. This information was co-produced with LPFT's Carers Council.

Self-harm is when you hurt yourself on purpose. Examples of self-harm include cutting, burning, poisoning and bruising. Other forms of more indirect self-harm may be self-neglect or excessive risk taking behaviour.

It’s a general term for any behaviour, action or habit, which can cause damage to your health and it’s a wide area that covers a whole range of actions.

The injuries may be minor, but sometimes they can be severe. They may leave permanent scars or cause serious health problems. Examples are:

  • Cutting yourself (such as using a razor blade, knife, or other sharp object to cut your skin
  • Punching yourself or punching things (like a wall)
  • Burning yourself with cigarettes, matches, or candles
  • Pulling out your hair
  • Poking objects through body openings
  • Breaking your bones or bruising yourself

What people generally don’t realise is that self-harming behaviour is relatively common. At least 10% of adolescents report having self harmed, and it can affect anyone of any age, background or race. It is a problem that needs to be taken seriously.

Self-harm is not a positive way to deal with difficult feelings and experiences, and over time it can become a habit that is quite hard to stop. That’s why it’s so important to spot it as soon as possible and do everything you can to help.

Self-harm is not a mental disorder. It is a behaviour and an unhealthy way to cope with strong feelings. However, some of the people who harm themselves do have a mental disorder. People who harm themselves are usually not trying to kill themselves. But they are at higher risk of attempting suicide if they do not get help.

Why do people do it?

There are a whole number of reasons why people might harm themselves. They can be broadly separated into 8 c’s, however it’s important to identify that people may well relate to one of these only or, more commonly, there might be several in play in any one ‘episode’.

It is likely that the reasons might change each time someone self-harms.

So self-harm is a way to find temporary relief from emotional overload. Breaking the cycle and helping someone to find other ways they
might manage these feelings is really important.