Self-harm

Self-harm is when you deliberately hurt yourself physically. It's often a way of trying to cope with intense feelings and emotions. Self-harm can be really dangerous, and has long-term effects on your physical and mental health. If you're struggling with self-harm, it's important that you get help and learn various ways of dealing with tough times.

Ask a therapist: Understanding self-harm

Clinical psychologist Nasalifya Namwinga breaks down what self-harm is, explains why it happens, and offers practical advice for managing urges and seeking support.

Girl in yellow sweater writing down notes

Self-help for self-harm

In addition to other forms of support, self-help strategies can be useful in managing urges to self-harm.

Help services for self-harm

If you or a friend are self-harming, it’s important that you talk to someone about what you’re going through.

My Green Box: a way to manage urges to self-harm

This young girl shares her experience of using a distraction box to help her get through difficult times.

How to help a friend who self-harms

It’s not always easy to tell if someone is self-harming, but if you’re worried about a friend, it’s important to know what signs to look for.