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Self Harm

Self Harm

Self-harm can be a direct response to a traumatic event that you may have had endured or an ongoing difficulty you are facing.  You may not know how to deal with the feelings that arise from the event, and you may begin to express those emotions by harming yourself.  Self-harm can be a way of expressing feelings without words and a way to communicate when experiencing distress. Sometimes self-harm can be viewed as a form of punishment you feel you may deserve.  It may be a way of expressing guilt that you might be internalising.

Self-harm is intentional damage or injury to yourself and is usually a coping mechanism and a way to deal with emotional or physical trauma. Self-harm is deliberate and can be an attempt to regain control or to be in control of some aspect of their life. The act of self-harm can sometimes become an obsession. 

People can use self-harm as a coping mechanism at any age or time of their lives. People who self-harm can be from any type of family anywhere in the world. For some, it can be a response to something in their lives that they cannot handle emotionally or that they cannot control.

There are various ways in which someone can actively harm themselves, these include cutting or scratching the skin with sharp objects, overheating or underheating, obsessively exercising, burning the skin, and substance abuse.

It can be very distressing if you or someone you love is self-harming. It might be a good idea to talk to your GP or contact a trained therapist or counsellor for help.

More info

Useful Articles

Here's a list of articles on self-harming you might find helpful.

Figures show extent of self harm in English teenagers 
A World Health Organisation survey reveals that a fifth of 15-year-olds in England say they self-harmed over the past year

Self-harm: why would she cut herself? 
The shocking discovery that her smart, lively 15-year-old daughter was self-harming opened Anna Stone’s eyes to the scale of the problems afflicting our troubled teenagers.

Cutting and Self-Harm: How to Feel Better without Hurting Yourself 
Self-harm can be a way of coping with problems. It may help you express feelings you can’t put into words, distract you from your life, or release emotional pain. Afterwards, you probably feel better—at least for a little while. But then the painful feelings return, and you feel the urge to hurt yourself again. If you want to stop cutting or self-harming but don’t know how, remember this: you deserve to feel better, and you can get there without hurting yourself.

BBC Radio 1: Self Harm  
The reasons why people self-harm are often misunderstood. Reading our fact file will hopefully help you understand why you or someone you care about is doing it, and how to take steps to stop it.

Recommended Reading

The Life Changing Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Sarah Knight
This irreverent and practical book explains how to rid yourself of unwanted obligations, shame, and guilt—and give your f**ks instead to people and things that make you happy.

 

Poems and Quotes to Inspire You

Dare we hope? We dare.
Can we hope? We can.
Should we hope? We must, because to do otherwise is to waste the most precious of gifts given so freely by God to all of us.  So when we do die, it will be with hope and it will be easy and our hearts will not be broken.

Andy Ripley – England and Lions rugby legend, often described as one of the most colourful personalities in the history of English rugby

Charities and support groups

Charities and support groups

Below you will find a comprehensive list of charities and support groups that offer help and assistance to anyone who is struggling with this mental health issue

Mind - For Better Mental Health

We provide advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. We campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding.  We won't give up until everyone experiencing a mental health problem gets support and respect.

http://www.mind.org.uk

Mental Health Foundation

Provides information and support for anyone with mental health problems or learning disabilities.

http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/

SANE

SANE services provide practical help, emotional support and specialist information to individuals affected by mental health problems, their family, friends and carers.

http://www.sane.org.uk/
Helpline 0845 767 8000

Salvation Army

The Salvation Army works closely with addiction referral services as well as providing specialist detox centres in the UK. This is complemented by rehabilitation and support programmes.

http://www.salvationarmy.org.uk/addiction-support

Get Connected

Get Connected is the UK's free, confidential helpline service for young people under 25 who need help, but don't know where to turn.

Helpline: 0808 808 4994
Open from 11am - 11pm every day
http://www.getconnected.org.uk/

Counselling Directory

Counselling Directory aims to be the leading service for providing counselling advice and information - connecting those in distress with the largest support network in the UK.

http://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/

Papyrus UK

Suicide prevention for young people up to the age of 35

https://www.papyrus-uk.org/
Helpline: 0800 068 41 41
Monday - Friday 10am – 5pm & 7pm – 10pm, Weekends 2pm – 5pm 

Text: 07786 209697
Email: pat@papyrus-uk.org

 

Barnardos

Barnardo’s believes in children regardless of their circumstances, gender, race, disability or behaviour. Our purpose as a charity today is to transform the lives of the UK’s most vulnerable children. We believe in the abused, the most vulnerable, the forgotten and the neglected. We will support them, stand up for them and bring out the best in each and every child.

www.barnardos.org.uk

Family Lives

Offers support to anyone parenting or helping to raise children, from newborn babies to young adults. There are free telephone and email helplines, parenting courses and information leaflets. The website offers lots of advice, real-life stories and relevant news as well as a helpful A-Z of related topics.

http://www.familylives.org.uk/
Helpline: 0800 800 2222 (9am – 9pm, Monday to Friday;10am – 3pm Saturday and Sunday)

 

selfharmUK

selfharmUK is a project dedicated to supporting young people impacted by self-harm, providing a safe space to talk, ask any questions and be honest about what's going on in your life. 

www.selfharm.co.uk

Self Injury Support

Self Injury Support aims to offer support to women in emotional distress, and particularly to those who self-injure; to develop services and raise awareness of self-injury and mental health issues, through training and providing information.

www.selfinjurysupport.org.uk/

Life Signs

To offer a vibrant, unique and comprehensive selection of resources, support and fresh information that everyone affected by self-injury can relate to and benefit from.

http://www.lifesigns.org.uk/

Childline

The UK’s free and confidential helpline is not just for children, it provides help for young people of all ages who are in distress or danger.  Counsellors provide advice and support, by phone and online, 24 hours a day. 

You can get help and advice about a wide range of issues, including violence and abuse in your relationship on the Childline website.  You can also talk to a counsellor online, send an email or post on the message boards.

Whatever your worry, it’s better out than in.

ChildLine has launched an app called Zipit. It helps you get flirty chat back on the right track. It's packed with killer comebacks and top tips to help you stay in control of your chat game. Find out more: childline.org.uk/zipit

Helpline: 0800 1111
www.childline.org.uk

Young Minds

Charity committed to improving the emotional wellbeing and mental health of children and young people.

www.youngminds.org.uk
Parents Helpline 0808 802 5544 Monday - Friday 9.30am - 4pm

Support Line

SupportLine provides a confidential telephone helpline offering emotional support to any individual on any issue. The Helpline is primarily a preventative service and aims to support people before they reach the point of crisis. It is particularly aimed at those who are socially isolated, vulnerable, at risk groups and victims of any form of abuse. SupportLine is a member of the Helplines Association. SupportLine also provides support by email and post.

http://www.supportline.org.uk
Helpline: 01708 765 200

Student Minds

Student Minds is the UK's student mental health charity. We believe that peer support can change the state of student mental health. Our vision is for students to take action to foster an environment where everyone has the confidence to talk and listen to each other, the skills to support one another and the knowledge to look after their own mental health.

Helpline: 08444 775 774 Mon-Fri 9:30am - 5.30pm (calls subject to charge)
http://www.studentminds.org.uk/anxiety-disorders.html

Samaritans

The Samaritans provide 24 hour, confidential, emotional support for anyone in crisis.

http://www.samaritans.org/
Helpline 116 123, this number is FREE to call
Email jo@samaritans.org

Elefriends (run by Mind)

Elefriends is a supportive online community where you can be yourself. 

We all know what it's like to struggle sometimes, and this is a safe place to listen, share and be heard. Whether you're feeling good right now, or really low, it's a safe place to share experiences and listen to others. 

Shared experiences and perspectives are valuable and powerful. In this way Elefriends don't just get help, they give help too. In the good times and the bad.

www.elefriends.org.uk

Off The Record

We believe that young people need places to go which are easy to access, where you are treated with respect, and where you can get support and information to help you make your own life choices. Our services are friendly and welcoming – about 1,000 new young people visit us every year. Available in the Richmond borough.

http://otrtwickenham.com/

Time to Change

Our aim is to start a conversation… or hopefully thousands of conversations.

We want to empower people with mental health problems to feel confident talking about the issue without facing discrimination. And we want the three quarters of the population who know someone with a mental health problem to talk about it too.

http://www.time-to-change.org.uk/

Have I got a Problem?

HaveiGotAproblem.com is a free online resource to help you understand issues or concerns you may have about mental health or addiction issues.

This site was created to give the public information to help them understand mental health and addiction issues and to assist people in making better informed decisions about their life and personal choices.

 

http://www.haveigotaproblem.com/

 

Addiction Support

ASCA is an established local voluntary sector organisation providing (c. 1990), confidential, 1-to-1 counselling and advice in Richmond and Kingston. We do not charge fees but ask for an appropriate weekly donation from our service users, this ensures people have access to our service whatever their financial circumstance.

We offer:

  • 1-to-1 counselling for those affected by alcohol and substance misuse
  • 1-to-1 counselling for the affected others of those with addiction problems
  • 1-to-1 counselling for behavioural addictions (such as sex addiction and eating problems)
  • 1-to-1 counselling for those facing issues in recovery
  • 1-to-1 counselling for a wide range of underyling issues (such as mental health issues, relationship issues, bereavement and loss)
  • Group therapy for family members, carers and friends
  • Group therapy for those with an alcohol and/or drug misuse problem
  • Health and Well Being Programme

http://www.addictionsupport.co.uk/

National Self Harm Network

Online Support Forum that aims to Support individuals who self harm to reduce emotional distress and improve their quality of life; Support and provide information for family and carers of individuals who self harm; Raise awareness of the needs of people who self harm, dispel myths and combat discrimination; Empower and enable those that self harm to seek alternatives to self harm and further help where appropriate.

http://www.nshn.co.uk/

Harmless

Harmless is a user led organisation that provides a range of services about self harm including support, information, training and consultancy to people who self harm, their friends and families and professionals.  Harmless was set up by people who understand self harm and at the heart of our service is a real sense of hope.

http://www.harmless.org.uk/

 

Relate

Relationships with family, partners, friends and colleagues play a big part in how happy we are. Whether you're facing difficulties, looking to strengthen your relationships, or want help thinking things through we're here to support you.

https://www.relate.org.uk

The Mix

The Mix is the UK’s leading support service for young people. We are here to help you take on any challenge you’re facing - from mental health to money, from homelessness to finding a job, from break-ups to drugs. Talk to us via online, social or our free, confidential helpline.

http://www.themix.org.uk/
Freephone 0808 808 4994
 

BACP

The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy is the professional association for members of the counselling professions in the UK.

https://www.bacp.co.uk

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