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Self harm
Info on self harm and how to get help.
What is self-harm?
Self-harm is when someone deliberately hurts, cuts or injures him/ herself. For some people, self-harm is seen as a way of coping with stress or painful feelings. Young people and teens are more at risk of self-harming than the rest of the population.
Self-harm injuries occur when someone hurts themselves by: cutting, punching, scratching or tearing at skin, burning, bruising, pulling out hair, driving dangerously or abusing drugs or alcohol.
Some people self-harm regularly or over a long period of time, others might self harm only once or a few times.
Getting help:
If you or someone you know is at risk of suicide or self harm, you should immediately contact your local doctor or go to the A&E department of the nearest hospital. The doctors and hospitals in your area will be listed in the Golden Pages: www.goldenpages.ie.
If you self harm it's very important that you seek help and support. It might seem that nobody understands what you're going through or that you are alone but remember there IS help available.
Who to talk to:
- The most important thing to do is tell someone about the self harm.
- Talk to someone you trust (perhaps a family member or a friend) and ask them to support you in finding help.
- Talk to your doctor, a school or college counsellor or support services in the area where you live. Doctors in your area will be listed in the Golden Pages: www.goldenpages.ie. You can ask your doctor to refer you to a counsellor, or contact the Irish Association for Counselling and Therapy. If you are at university or college there is often a free counselling service provided. See www.pleasetalk.ie for information on student support services at all the universities in the Republic of Ireland.
Support services:
Pieta House- Centre for the Prevention of Self-Harm or Suicide
Web: www.pieta.ie
Email: mary@pieta.ie
Pieta House offers a specialised treatment programme for people who have suicidal ideation or who participate in self-harming behaviours. In particular, this centre targets people who have already attempted to take their lives. This service is free of charge.
Samaritans PHONE: 1850 609090
(Northern Ireland PHONE: 08457 909090)
Email: jo@samaritans.org
Web: www.samaritans.org
Samaritans provide confidential, non-judgemental support, 24 hours a day for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those which could lead to suicide.
ChildLine FREEPHONE: 1800 66 66 66
Talk to ChildLine online.
Web: www.childline.ie
Childline is a 24-hour a day service for young people up to 18. Childline offer support to young people through their listening service over the phone and through the website. You can call Childline for a chat or to talk about any problems you might have.
Click here for other organisations that can help.
Why people self harm:
Self-harm is often used to relieve tension or anger. It might also be a way to let out feelings and deal with sadness, stress, self-hatred or depression.
You might not know why you self harm. If you talk to someone you trust (a doctor or counsellor, friend, relative or teacher) they can help you start to understand the reasons. It’s important to get help: people who self harm are at a higher risk of suicide.
Some of the reasons people give for self-harming:
- Not being able to show your feelings by crying or in other ways.
- Physical hurt takes your mind away from emotional pain like a death or family problems.
- Self-harm relieves stress from exams or work for a little while.
- You want to forget about being abused or bullied.
- Hating yourself and hurting your body in punishment.
- When you feel out of control, self-harm is a jolt back to reality.
- Self-harm makes you feel alive.
- Some people say that self-harm makes them feel real and in control. Instead of crying or screaming at someone, maybe you hurt yourself instead.
