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Self-Harm

Commonly known as: self-injury, self-harm, harming, self harming, self harm, self injury, self-harming

Self-Harm

Explore self-harm by scrolling through the page or simply select an option from the drop down if you wish to jump to the relevant section of the page:

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In an emergency call 999

If you are concerned about yourself, a friend or family member or your own behaviour, it is an emergency.

What is self-harm?

Self-harm usually refers to someone intentionally causing themselves harm and can take many forms. It can include physical harm inflicted on the body, as well as emotional harm.

Cutting, burning, scratching, hair pulling, picking skin, misusing alcohol or drugs, risk taking behaviour and not looking after yourself can all be forms of self-harm.

Some people use self-harm as a way to cope with life, emotions, difficult situations and thoughts, but it is important to remember that everyone’s reason for self-harming is as individual as they are.

 

Helpful information and advice

Sometimes there are clear signs that someone is self-harming, at other times it can be harder to tell.

People often try to hide self-harm because of shame or fear of others finding out.

It might be up to close family and friends to notice when somebody is self-harming, and to approach the subject with care and understanding.

Some signs that a person may be self-harming could be a change in behaviour, withdrawal from normal activities, wearing long sleeved tops to cover up, unexplained injuries or low mood.

Someone who is self-harming can seriously hurt themselves, so it is important that they speak to someone for support and advice. This could be a GP, another health professional, or a trusted adult.

 

Self-help advice

As well as services/helplines, there are resources which provide information to help people understand why people self-harm. They provide advice on how to resist or manage the urge to self-harm.

Our self-help resources below include:

  • Approved websites which help people understand self-harm, as well as providing advice.
  • Approved free apps, which provide information and advice to help you resist or manage the urge to self-harm.
  • Helpful information including the Samaritan’s ‘Finding Your Way’ guide, which includes advice on how to develop a self-harm safety plan. There is also information produced by PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide.
  • Finding ways that help you avoid, delay or reduce self-harm may help to get you through the feelings you are experiencing. This can include talking to someone, exercising, listening to music, watching TV, drawing, singing, screaming into a pillow, hitting a cushion or keeping a diary.
  • If you need some other ideas for distractions, you could download the Calm Harm App
  • You could make a comfort box. This is a box where you keep a collection of things that bring you comfort that may help you deal with stress and difficult emotions.  Try to include things in the box that will soothe all your senses and focus on your physical senses when you use them e.g
    • Sight – a photo album, a book you enjoy, reminder for films that make you feel good.
    • Hearing – a happy playlist, an audio book, helpline numbers so you can speak to someone.
    • Smell – a scented candle, coffee, perfume.
    • Taste – a favourite treat or drink.
    • Touch – hand cream, make-up, a blanket, stress ball or fidget toy.
    • You might want to find out about Mindfulness which encourages us to become more aware of our thoughts and feelings so that we can manage them in a different way with more positive outcomes.
  • If the information, advice, resources and courses on this page have not been helpful and/or you think you need more help, there are many free support services available. See below.

 

If you need further help

  • If you feel you may harm yourself and/or are already self-harming, you don’t need to experience these feelings alone. Talk to someone you trust or speak to your GP. You may find it helpful to talk to a free listening or support organisation. See our ‘helplines’ section below.
  • If you or someone you know need urgent help – go to our ‘urgent help’ page immediately.
  • Self-harm or injuries can often be treated at home; however, you should seek immediate medical attention if bleeding doesn’t stop, there is a burn bigger than a 5p piece, the person has ingested something or taken an overdose. If you have wounds on your skin and they look like they have become infected or are not healing properly, contact your GP for assessment.
  • If you are aged under 18 and need urgent advice/self-referral to local mental health and wellbeing services in the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, contact SPACE Wellbeing. Details can be found on the website.
  • If you live in the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board area, and are aged over 18, you can make an appointment with a Psychological Health Practitioner (PHP) or GP by contacting your local GP surgery. PHPs are NHS mental health practitioners who provide a free service for people experiencing mild to moderate mental health problems.
Last updated: 07.03.2023
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Self-help resources for those worried about or experiencing self-harm

Browse our free self-help resources for those experiencing self-harm, approved by mental health experts.

TypeTitleRelated to…Provider
Reading Reading

Finding Your Way – A guide for anyone who is struggling to cope | Samaritans

Loneliness, Low Mood, Money, Self-Harm, Suicide mind
Web App Web App

Samaritans Self-Help App

Depression, Low Mood, Self-Harm, Students' Mental Health, Suicide, Young Person's Mental Health mind
Apps (iOS) Apps (iOS)

Calm Harm App (iOS) – Free award winning app that helps you manage or resist the urge to self-harm.

Self-Harm

Stem4

Apps (Android) Apps (Android)

Calm Harm App (Android) – Free award winning app that helps you manage or resist the urge to self-harm.

Self-Harm

Stem4

Websites Websites

Heads Above The Waves – a not-for-profit organisation that promotes positive ways of dealing with depression and self-harm in young people

Depression, Self-Harm, Students' Mental Health, Suicide, Young Person's Mental Health mind
Reading Reading

Self-Harm Leaflet – PAPYRUS, Prevention of Young Suicide

Self-Harm mind
Reading Reading

Self-harm – NHS Self-help Guide

Self-Harm mind
Reading Reading

Self Harm – NHS Easy Read Guide

Self-Harm, Suicide, Young Person's Mental Health mind
Apps (iOS) Apps (iOS)

distrACT App (iOS) – Free app providing trusted information and links to support people who self-harm and may feel suicidal.

Self-Harm, Suicide, Young Person's Mental Health

Expert Self Care

Apps (Android) Apps (Android)

distrACT App (Android) – Free app providing trusted information and links to support people who self-harm and may feel suicidal.

Self-Harm, Suicide, Young Person's Mental Health

Expert Self Care

Showing 10 out of 20 results View all

Helplines and support for those experiencing self-harm

See below for helplines for those experiencing self-harm. To see our full list of helplines, visit our helplines page.

Samaritans Logo

Samaritans – For Everyone

If you are struggling to cope and need someone to talk to, Samaritans will listen. You can contact Samaritans 24 hours a day, 365 days a year on 116 123 (free from any phone) or email jo@samaritans.org.

You can also call the Samaritans Welsh Language Line (free from any phone) on 0808 164 0123 (7pm–11pm every day).

Visit the Samaritans Cymru website ➝

Shout

Text Shout to 85258 – Shout is the UK’s first 24/7 text servicefree on all major mobile networks, for anyone in crisis anytime, anywhere.

It’s a place to go if you’re struggling to cope and you need immediate help.

Shout is powered by a team of volunteers, who are at the heart of the service. We take people from crisis to calm every single day.

Visit the Shout website ➝
Meic Logo

Meic

Meic is the helpline service for children and young people up to the age of 25 in Wales. From finding out what’s going on in your local area to help dealing with a tricky situation, Meic will listen even when no-one else will. We won’t judge you and will help by giving you information, useful advice and the support you need to make a change.

Visit the Meic website ➝
Childline Logo

Childline – for children and young people under 19

Childline is here to help anyone under 19 in the UK with any issue they’re going through. You can talk about anything. Whether it’s something big or small, our trained counsellors are here to support you.

Get help and advice about a wide range of issues, call us, talk to a counsellor online, send Childline an email or post on the message boards.

Call on 0800 1111 – the number will not show up on your phone bill.

Visit the Childline website ➝
Showing 4 out of 15 results View all
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