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Young people who harm themselves deliberately by cutting themselves or in other ways are trying to find a way to cope with difficult circumstances or problems in their life. It is important to for them to know that they are not going mad – it is a way of coping that is generally done in secret and can go on for a long time without anyone else knowing about it.
What is it?
It can take many forms although self cutting is the most common one. Other forms are things like pulling own hair, scratching parts of the body, burning parts of the body or swallowing objects or self poisoning. There are a wide range of things that people do to themselves that cause damage to their bodies.
It can be difficult to understand why anyone would want to do this but it is important to recognise that it is a symptom of feelings that cant be expressed in any other way and the act of self-harm can make it easier for them to cope with their feelings
Why do it?
Reasons given by young people for self-harming (for a study called “Truth Hurts” a report into self-harm among young people)
• Being bullied at school
• Not getting on with parents
• Stress about academic performance
• Parental divorce
• Bereavement
• Unwanted pregnancy
• Experience of abuse in earlier childhood
• Difficulties associated with sexuality
• Low self-esteem
• Feelings of being rejected in their lives
What can you do about it?
You are NOT ALONE, self-harm affects at least 1 in 15 young people and the majority of people who self-harm are aged between 11 and 25.
Here’s what you can do…..
• Be kind to yourself
• Talk to friends and family
• Try and write up how you are feeling in a diary or in poems
• Listen to music that makes you feel good not worse
• Get out in the fresh air for a walk or some physical exercise
• There are people who you can phone even 24 hours a day –see below for contacts
• Try and eat regularly and not just junk
• Go and see your Doctor if things don’t get any better – you may need counselling or alternative treatment
Who else can help?
There are lots of ways to get help – choices around talking with people, accessing support and finding out more about self-harm
Talk to someone you can trust – they will want to help you – you’ll be surprised!
Sources of further information:
www.rcpsych.ac.uk
www.colchesteryes.org
www.youngminds.org.uk Tel:0207 336 8445 9.30-5.30
www.connexions-direct.com Tel: 080 800 13 2 19
www.childline.org.uk Tel: 0800 1111 24 hours a day
www.readthesigns.org
www.samaritans.org Tel: 08457 90 90 90
Local support available
The Junction 78 Maldon Road Colchester Essex CO3 3AL Tel: 01206 541841
Teen Talk 17 Cliff Road Dovercourt Harwich Essex CO12 3PP tel: 01255 504800
CONTACT YOUR TEEN LIFE
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