Mental Health and Wellbeing Information

Self-harm

Self harm is a behaviour that is used to either express or relieve feelings of distress.  Sometimes the reason is a mixture of both. 

A common misunderstanding about self-harm is that it is a failed suicide attempt. Most people who self-harm do so to cope with difficulties in their lives, rather than as a way to end their lives. Self harm can also be a cry for help.

Self-harm is linked to anxiety & depression and self-harming behaviour can range from minor to serious injury.

UK Facts and Figures

  • One in ten people aged 15 and 16 in the UK has self harmed at some point in their life.
  • Rates of self-harm in the UK are among the highest in Europe at 400 per 1000,000 per year.
  • Self injury is uncommon in children under eleven, although there is evidence of children as young as five trying to harm themselves.
  • Self harm is three times more common among girls and young women that among boys and young men.
  • Of people who go to hospital because of self-harm, 15% will come back again for the same reason within a year.
  • NHS Scotland claim 27% of men and 19% of women gave alcohol as the reason for self-harming. 

People may self-harm because they:

  • Need a way to express their distress
  • Need a respite from strong emotions such as anger
  • Need relief from tension and distress
  • Feel it lets them escape from certain situations & memories in their lives
  • Need to relieve feelings of numbness
  • Need attention
  • Are under strain from peer pressure

Ways of Self-harming

  • Cutting yourself
  • Poisoning yourself
  • Over-eating or under-eating
  • Burning your skin
  • Inserting objects into your body
  • Hitting yourself or walls
  • Overdosing
  • Exercising excessively
  • Scratching or hair pulling

  Signs of Self-harm

  • Unexplained cuts, bruises or cigarette burns, usually on wrists, arms, thighs and chest
  • Keeping fully covered at all times, even in hot weather
  • Signs of depression, such as low mood, tearfulness or a lack of motivation or interest in anything
  • Self-loathing and expressing a wish to punish themselves
  • Not wanting to go on and wishing to end it all
  • Becoming very withdrawn and not speaking to others
  • Changes in eating habits or being secretive about eating, and any unusual weight loss or weight gain
  • Signs of low self-esteem, such as blaming themselves for any problems or thinking they're not good enough for something
  • Signs of pulling out hair
  • Signs of alcohol or drugs misuse

Getting Help

If you are self-harming, you should contact your GP for help, your GP can treat any physical injury and recommend further assessment, if necessary.

There are organisations that offer support and advice for people who self-harm.  These include:

How can I help? 

If you have urgent concerns that someone needs professional treatment:

How can I support someone in a crisis

If you are a manager and have concerns that a member of staff is self harming:

Supporting Mental Health