Self-harm is when someone purposely hurts themselves, usually in order to cope with intense emotional distress. Self-harm isn’t a mental health problem, but can often be linked to mental distress[RG1] or other mental health problems.
Everyone’s experience is unique and there is no one reason why someone may self-harm. For some people it can be linked to specific experience, but for others the reasons may be less clear.
Some of the reasons can include:
- To deal with overwhelming emotions
- To distract from how they are feeling
- To get relief from feelings
- To make others aware of how they are feeling
- To express suicidal feelings
Although self-harm may provide short-term relief, the cause of distress is unlikely to have gone away. It can bring up difficult emotions and often make someone feel worse.
Where can I find out more?
Visit the Mind and Rethink Mental Illness websites to find out more about self-harm, including information on support, treatment and recovery.
