What is self harm?

Self-harm is where you hurt or injure yourself on purpose, for example:

• cutting yourself
• taking overdoses of tablets or medicines
• not eating enough
• scratching your skin to cause sores and scarring.

After self-harming, you might feel a short-term sense of relief or control. This can make it easier to rely on and harder to stop.

Why am I self-harming?

There can be many reasons why a child or young person self-harms, but it’s often a sign that something isn’t quite right and that you’re going through something tough. This could be because you’re feeling depressed or anxious, being bullied at school, neglected by your parents, or grieving the loss of someone you love.

Useful links

Childline

B-eat – beating eating disorders

Harmless – advice and guidance

Self-harm UK – advice and guidance