Understanding Self-Harm
With warmer days ahead, we welcome a sense of seasonal renewal. March also serves as an important reminder that it’s Self‑Harm Awareness Month. This month encourages us to pause, take a deep breath, and recognize the emotional struggles people may carry, even when those challenges aren’t visible to the friends, family, loved ones, or community members around them. It’s a time to reflect, show compassion, and acknowledge that many individuals face battles we may never see.
Statistics
According to Mental Health America, research shows that self‑injury occurs in about 5% of adults in the United States. Rates are higher among adolescents, with roughly 17% of teens reporting some form of self‑injury. Studies also find an even greater risk among college students, with estimates ranging from 17% to 35%.
Forms of Self-Harm
Self-harm typically occurs in private and is done with in intentional manner that often leaves a mark on the skin. Forms of self-harm include the following:
- Cutting
- Scratching
- Burning the skin with dangerous objects
- Carving words or symbols into the skin
- Self‑hitting, punching, or head‑banging
- Inserting objects under the skin
- Using more than one method
Common areas targeted for self‑injury include:
- Arms
- Legs
- Front torso
- Thighs
Why Do People Self-Harm?
People may self-injure or self-harm because of various reasons. Typical factors include:
- Poor coping skills
- Difficulty managing emotions or feelings about something or someone
- Trying to reduce severe distress
- Using physical pain as a distraction from painful emotions
- Wanting to feel a sense of control over their body, feelings, or decisions
- Wanting to feel something, including physical pain
- Struggling to communicate emotional pain or depression
- Punishing themselves for perceived faults
- Personal struggles or challenging situations
Risks & Warnings
Self‑harm often begins in adolescence, typically around the age of 13, when emotions can feel overwhelming and difficult to manage as teens continue to grow and develop. Environmental factors can also play a major role in why someone may turn to self‑harm. These influences can include pressure from parental or authoritative figures, challenges within the household, peer pressure, loneliness, and other personal conflicts.
Warning signs could include the following:
- Scars, often appearing in patterns
- Fresh cuts, scratches, bruises, bite marks, or other unexplained wounds
- Excessive rubbing of an area to create a burn
- Keeping sharp objects on one’s person
- Wearing long sleeves, long pants, or extra layers even in hot weather
- Frequent reports of “accidental” injuries
- Difficulties in relationships
- Instability, impulsivity, or unpredictable behavior
- Statements expressing helplessness, hopelessness, or worthlessness
- Behavior that seems unusual or out of character
Prevention
There is no one way to prevent someone from self-harming. Prevention methods used to try and reduce the risks includes:
- Offering resources
- Teaching healthy coping skills
- Encouraging social connection
- Raising awareness
- Reaching out for help
- For children: Consult with a pediatrician or another health care provider who can offer an evaluation or a referral to a mental health professional.
- For pre‑teens/teenagers: Reach out to friends, parents, a teacher, a school counselor, or another trusted adult.
- For adults: Gently express your concerns and encourage the person to seek medical and mental health support.
Raising Awareness
It’s important to not feel trapped by shame, guilt, or fear, or any negative emotion when actively trying to seek help. Self-harm and self-injury go beyond recognizing the physical signs. It requires people to confront the stigma and misunderstanding behind the topic, and continue speaking up about problems in your community and in today’s society in order to reduce rates, and make the space around and beyond you a better place. What can you do to help? Spread positivity throughout your community, promoting resources, and advocating for healthier lifestyles can help you become apart of the movement.
Do You Need to Reach Out to Someone?
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