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 fashion statement, joke or a phase of any kind. Help
has not cured me, but assisted me in managing
my emotional pain in better ways Sarah
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 physical
response 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, including abusing drugs and alcohol or having an eating disorder. Self-harm is most common among young people between 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 manage 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, express
their distress or relieve unbearable tension.
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 referral and offer treatment options. Your GP will usually offer to refer someone at risk of self harm to healthcare professionals 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 antidepressant medication.
Self-harm is more common than many people realise, especially among younger people. A survey of people aged
15-16 years carried out in the UK in 2002 estimated that more than 10% of girls and more than 3% of boys had selfharmed 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 youre feeling when you want to self-harm. This can help you come up with a way of
dealing with it.
Youth Net
Selfharm.co.uk
The online guide to life for 16-25 year olds that provides
essential advise affecting their lives
Is a safe, pro-recovery website that supports young
people who self-harm.
www.youthnet.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.
TheSite.org
It also offers training for parents, carers and professionals equipping them to handle disclosure and provide
effective support.
The Samaritans
John Williams House, 4b High Street, Reigate, Surrey,
RH2 9AY
Telephone: 01737 248444
Young Minds
The leading online provider, provides essential, straighttalking, anonymous advice to young people about the
issues affecting their lives.
Young Minds is the UKs leading charity committed to
improving the emotional wellbeing and mental health
of children and young people.
Telephone: 0207 250 5700
Young Minds provides a Parents Helpline for any
adult concerned about the mental health or wellbeing
of a child or young person.
Website: www.thesite.org
Telephone: 0808 802 5544
NSPCC helpline
You can call our experienced counsellors whenever
you need to. They're used to dealing with the effects of
self-harm and your call can be made anonymously.
TESS
For girls and young women up to 24yrs who selfinjure.
Open Sun, Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs and Fri 7pm - 9pm
Text: 0780 047 2908
Telephone: 0808 800 5000.
Heads Together
Counselling service for young people aged 14-24 who
are experiencing emotional distress, relationship difficulties or stress.
Issues dealt with include family breakdown, abuse, self
harm 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
