Self harm is where a young person causes deliberate injuries to themselves. It not an illness but a behaviour. It is often an associated with our mental health issues.
They do this to cope with or to communicate emotional distress and to feel something when they feel numb.
What forms can self harm take?
It has many different forms including;
Hitting themselves
Cutting or burning skin
Scratching themselves
Poisoning themselves
Interfering with the healing of a wound they have
What are the possible signs of self harming?
Blood stains on their clothing, towels, bedding or on tissues
Unexplained injuries
Unexplained accidents
Low self-esteem
Mood swings
Being irritable
Keeping themselves covered up even on hot days
Avoiding having to reveal their bodies i.e. swimming, getting changed with others
Having sharp implements in their room or in their belongings
Having relationship issues with friends
Isolating themselves
Poor performance in their school work and exams
Their loss of interest in their favourite things they loved to do i.e. hobbies or sports
This is not attention seeking
It happens to all genders
Many will have kept it hidden for years
They could be using it to manage suicidal feelings
It could be a cry for help
It often occurs with other health issues such as depression
Support & Useful Websites
