Self Harm

Self-harm is a lot more common than you think. It covers many different acts that cause personal harm. These can range from cutting, burning, purposeful bruising and hair pulling to eating disorders and overdosing.

Self-harm is often caused by intense emotional pain that is difficult to express in any other way. It is not attention seeking, but does show that the person is in pain.

What to do about it?

The important thing is to find somebody to talk to - a friend, family member, your GP or a professional counsellor. There are contacts at the end of this section and you can also talk confidentially to the staff at Grapevine either by phone or in person. If you do self harm try to keep the injuries clean, avoiding further infections, especially if you have cuts.

Helping a friend

Even if you don't understand why someone is self harming it is important that you try to be supportive and uncritical, encouraging them to talk about how they feel and possibly to get professional help and support.