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What is Self harm?
The phrase ‘self -harm’ is used to describe a wide range of behaviours. Self -harm is often understood to be a physicalresponse to an emotional pain of some kind. Some of the things people do are quite well known, such as cutting,
burning or pinching, but there are many, many other ways people with this types of disorder hurt themselves, includ-ing abusing drugs and alcohol or having an eating disorder. Self -harm is most common among young people be-
tween the ages of 11-25 especially young people who engage in excessive drinking and drugs.
Self -harm often happens during times of anger, distress, fear, worry, depression or low self -esteem in order to man-
age or control negative feelings. Self -harm can also be used as a form of self -punishment for something someone
has done, thinks they have done, are told by someone else that they have done, or that they have allowed to be
done to themselves.
Sometimes when people self -harm they intend to die but often the intention is more to punish themselves, expresstheir distress or relieve unbearable tension.
Selfharm
“Cutting is underrated overlooked and mocked.
But what people need to learn is that self harm
is a problem that needs to be solved not a fash-
ion statement joke or a phase of any kind. Help
has not cured me but assisted me in managing
my emotional pain in better ways” arah
Getting Help
If you or someone you know is self harming, speak to your GP. There's no best way to treat self -injuring behaviour
or self -harm but the first step is seek help from a GB and when the root causes is established, they can make a re-
ferral and offer treatment options. Your GP will usually offer to refer someone at risk of self harm to healthcare pro-
fessionals at a local community mental health service for further assessment. This assessment will result in care
team working out a treatment plan with or for the patient.
Treatment for people who self -harm will usually involve seeing a therapist to discuss your feelings and thoughts and
how these affect your behaviour and wellbeing. If you are badly depressed it could also involve taking antidepres-
sant medication.
Self -harm is more common than many people realise, especially among younger people. A survey of people aged15-16 years carried out in the UK in 2002 estimated that more than 10% of girls and more than 3% of boys had self -harmed in the previous year.
What else can help?
Child line suggests that the best ways to cope with wanting to self -harm include:
listening to music and talking to friends or family
Writing down how you feel
Drawing a butterfly on yourself - the aim is to keep it alive and if you self -harm you ‘kill’ the butterfly
Exercise also helps and squeezing an ice cube
Thinking about the emotion you’re feeling when you want to self -harm. This can help you come up with a way of
dealing with it.
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Youth Net
The online guide to life for 16-25 year olds that provides
essential advise affecting their lives
www.youthnet.org
TheSite.org
The leading online provider, provides essential, straight-
talking, anonymous advice to young people about the
issues affecting their lives.
Telephone: 0207 250 5700
Website: www.thesite.org
Child Line
Offers children and young people aged 18 and under
free, confidential advice and support 24 hours a day – no
problem is too big or small.
Trained volunteer counsellors can be contacted through
our helpline 0800 1111 or on www.childline.org.uk for
online chat or email.
Selfharm.co.uk
Is a safe, pro-recovery website that supports youngpeople who self -harm.
It also offers training for parents, carers and profession-als equipping them to handle disclosure and provideeffective support.
Young Minds
Young Minds is the UK’s leading charity committed toimproving the emotional wellbeing and mental health
of children and young people.
Young Minds provides a Parents’ Helpline for any
adult concerned about the mental health or wellbeing
of a child or young person.
Telephone: 0808 802 5544
The Samaritans
John Williams House, 4b High Street, Reigate, Surrey,
RH2 9AY
Telephone: 01737 248444
TESS
For girls and young women up to 24yrs who self -
injure.
Open Sun, Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs and Fri 7pm - 9pm
Text: 0780 047 2908
NSPCC helpline
You can call our experienced counsellors wheneveryou need to. They're used to dealing with the effects of
self -harm and your call can be made anonymously.
Telephone: 0808 800 5000.
Heads Together
Counselling service for young people aged 14-24 who
are experiencing emotional distress, relationship diffi-
culties or stress.
Issues dealt with include family breakdown, abuse, selfharm and bullying.
Counselling centres at Redhill, Oxted, Horley and
Leatherhead.
Student counsellor at East Surrey College.
Phone: 01737 378481
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.ymcaredhill.com
Open House Youth Counselling Service
Counselling service for young people aged 11-30 on a
range of issues, including bullying and self harm. Up to
eight sessions will be initially offered to individuals,
with an option to continue if necessary.
How to contact: Phone, make an appointment or
write. Answering machine service - calls returned
within 24 hours.
Phone: 07932 047778
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.guildfordymca.org.uk
Address: Guildford YMCA, Bridge Street, Guildford,
GU1 4SB
