Don’t struggle alone

01 Mar 25

Self Injury Awareness Day is recognised on the 1 March each year. It is an opportunity to educate people about self-harm and talk about some of the myths that surround it.

Orange ribbon next to the words Self Injury Awareness Day

If you are self-harming, please don’t feel you have to manage alone, there are places that can help you. Go to the end of this article to find the place that’s right for you.

Self-harm refers to purposely poisoning or injuring yourself. It is a form of communication for an individual to express their emotional distress, although the reasons why people harm themselves will be different for each person. Possible reasons include relieving overwhelming emotional distress, self-punishment, sensory soothing, communication of emotional pain where words fail and stopping feelings of emotional numbness or dissociation.

There are common myths about self-harm:

“It’s attention-seeking” or “a cry for help” – using this language about self-harm is very invalidating and dismissive. It can make the situation worse. Self-harm is sometimes a way of communicating distress to others in the absence of an ability to express their pain through words.

“It’s to end their lives” - self-harm and suicide are different. Many people who self-harm have no intention to end their lives and it is really important to understand the reasons behind the actions and not to make assumptions. Some people who harm themselves may also have distressing suicidal thoughts, and self-harm may actually be a way of stopping them from acting on such thoughts.

One service user shared: “I don't want to die: I just want to stop the pain…..and the only way to do that is to hurt myself.”

There a number of organisations who can support if you or someone you know is struggling.

What is self-harm? - Mind This site has information and signposting to support for those struggling with self-harm and also those who support them.

Call Mind on 0300 123 3393

The NSHN Forum – National Self-Harm Network - The forum provides crisis support, information and resources, advice, discussions and distractions.

Self Harm | Feelings | Health for Teens – information and live chat for teens struggling with self-harm

Shout: the UK's free, confidential and 24/7 mental health text service for crisis support | text Shout 85258

Self-harm | Papyrus provides information and support for young people who feel suicidal. They have a ‘hope-line’ 0800 068 41 41 which offers practical advice and support.

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Don’t struggle alone