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Self-harm is when someone hurts themselves on purpose as a way of coping with distress. It is often a response to overwhelming feelings, experiences, or situations, and can help someone feel a sense of relief, control, or release when things feel too much.

Self-harm can take many forms. This includes behaviours such as cutting, burning, scratching or pinching the skin. It can also involve things that are less visible, such as misusing drugs or alcohol, experiencing eating difficulties, putting oneself in risky situations, or neglecting physical or emotional needs.

Although self-harm can increase the risk of suicide for some people, many of the people we speak to who self-harm are not trying to end their lives and are looking for support and guidance.

People self-harm for many different reasons. It is often linked to trauma, stress, loss, abuse, mental health difficulties, or feeling unheard, unsupported or alone. While self-harm can increase the risk of suicide for some people, many people who self-harm are not trying to end their lives - they are trying to cope with what they are going through.

Self-harm is not attention-seeking or a sign of weakness. It is a sign that someone is struggling, and with understanding, compassion and the right support, people can find other ways to cope that feel safer and more sustainable.

Everyone’s experience of self-harm is different, so there is no single type of support that works for everyone. What often helps is being met with understanding, respect and care, rather than judgement or pressure to change before someone feels ready.

Support might include having a safe space to talk about what is going on, at a pace that feels manageable. This could be with a trusted person, a peer supporter, or a trained worker who understands self-harm and its underlying causes.

Some people find it helpful to explore what self-harm does for them and what they are trying to cope with, while others may want practical support to get through difficult moments, reduce harm, or find alternative ways of coping over time.

Support may also involve help with the wider things that affect someone’s wellbeing - such as trauma, mental health, housing, relationships, finances, discrimination or isolation - and support to navigate services when these feel hard to access or overwhelming.

For many people, the most important support is being believed, listened to and taken seriously. With the right support, people can move towards greater safety and understanding, in ways that feel realistic and led by them.