CYP Now - Health: Advice on ... Self-harm

An estimated one in 15 young people have self-harmed, yet identifying the causes can be difficult. The Mental Health Foundation's Celia Richardson explores the issue, the likely triggers and what can be done to help those who resort to hurting themselves.

Q: What is self-harm?

The term is used to describe a range of things that people do to themselves in a deliberate and usually hidden way. It can involve cutting, burning, scalding, banging or scratching, breaking bones, hair pulling and swallowing poisonous substances or objects.

There are a number of myths attached to self-harm. One is that self-harm is about "attention seeking". Most self-harm is actually done in secret, for a long time and it is often very hard for young people to find enough courage to ask for help. Self-harm is also sometimes thought of as a group activity, but this is rarely the case.

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