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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