Self-harm

Self-harm generally means direct physical attacks on parts of your own body, like cutting, scratching, burning and pulling hair out.  

There are other sorts of behaviour that can also be considered as types of self-harm, for example: excessive drinking or taking drugs to a point that it seriously impacts on your health or puts you into potentially dangerous situations; driving recklessly; always getting into harmful relationships and seriously neglecting your health. 

SIFT provide a national text and email support service for girls and young women up to 25 who self-injure. The Sift website also provides self-help info around managing difficult feelings, flashbacks and anger and how to move from self-injury to self-care. 

LifeSIGNS is a voluntary organisation run by people who have personal experience of self-injury. Their website contains lots and lots of information and advice about self-injury - from how to 'surf the urge' to scar reduction/camouflage advice. Anyone thinking about hurting themselves right now might find their 'Read this first' page helpful. 

London Black Women's Project - 020 8472 0528, info@lbwp.online – work with Black and Asian women and girls vulnerable to suicide and self-harm. They have a resource centre offering legal advice, information, counselling, including information and counselling for people who self-harm. They also run refuge services for women needing to escape from violent situations. 

The Mental Health Foundation website offers a key source of information about self-harm, breaking down common myths. It provides a wide range of advice and resources for young people who self-harm, their friends, families and professionals, including tips for looking after oneself and getting help. 

MIND provides a downloadable booklet called 'Understanding self-harm'. 

Self Heal - Oxford University students have developed an app to help prevent self-harm in students. It is available for iPhones and Android phones.