Whilst people may self-harm for different reasons it is a sign that someone is experiencing emotional distress and should be taken seriously. It doesn’t necessarily mean someone has a mental health problem or is feeling suicidal.
Self-harm can provide a temporary ‘release’ from difficult emotions, but it doesn’t address the underlying cause of those emotions.
Finding other ways to cope is important, as over time people might find they need to engage with more severe types of self-harm to experience the same sense of relief, or release, that they might have initially experienced.
If you’re worried someone is self-harming it’s important to ask them directly, in a supportive and non-judgmental way. They are likely to find it difficult to talk about or express their feeling, and it can be difficult to hear that someone we care about is in distress, but reaching out shows you care and could be the first step to finding alternative ways to cope.
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