Question 1

What can parents and friends do to help someone who is self-harming?

Accepted Answer

Community is essential to coping with mental health issues of any kind. The most important thing you can do is be supportive. It can be challenging to help a loved one who is self-harming because they are likely to try to hide their behavior.

Self-harm can be correlated with suicidal ideation, but it isn’t always. This is important to remember when reacting to a loved one’s self-harming. Self-harm is generally a coping mechanism for working through pain, isolation, and other negative feelings. Traditional responses to suicidal ideation can often be traumatic, and may worsen these symptoms.

Speaking to a therapist can be helpful for working through the issues that may lead to self-harm, and learning less harmful tools for coping. If a loved one is self-harming, encourage them to connect with someone who has experience treating clients who self-harm.

Question 2

What is the most effective treatment for self-harm?

Accepted Answer

Unlike physical injuries or illnesses that often have a clear treatment path, there is no one best treatment to help someone who is self-harming. Reaching out for help is a vital first step.

Speaking to a therapist can be helpful for working through the issues that may lead to self-harm, while also learning tools for effective coping. If a loved one is self-harming, helping them connect with reliable and supportive help can be key. Community support is also essential to coping with mental health issues of any kind.

Question 3

What is self-harm?

Accepted Answer

Self-harm is the act of injuring yourself on purpose, generally as a coping mechanism in response to emotional distress or overload.

Self-harm can take many forms, including physically or emotionally harmful behaviors or actions like (but not limited to) cutting, scratching, burning, or hitting yourself. It can also include knowingly exposing yourself to situations and experiences that cause you distress or pain.

It can co-occur with eating disorders and substance use disorders, as well as other mental health issues, the symptoms of which can also manifest as forms of self-harm. Regardless of the specifics, all forms of self-harming should be taken seriously.

Self-harm that does not accompany suicidal ideation is, at times diagnosed as non-suicidal self-injury disorder. Though self-harm can create a temporary sense of relief, it’s often part of a cycle that worsens negative feelings and symptoms. Speaking to a therapist can be helpful for working through the issues that may lead to self-harm, and learning less harmful tools for coping.

Self-harm can accompany or lead to suicidal ideation. If you’re experiencing suicidal ideation, you can and should reach out for support. If you feel you’re in an emergency situation, you can reach the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255.

Question 4

How common is self-harm among the adolescent/young adult population?

Accepted Answer

It’s hard to say exactly how many adolescents and young adults self harm, because many may feel the need to keep these behaviors a secret, or tell only those close to them.

Researchers estimate that between 8% and 25% of young people engage in a form of self-harm, and that self-harm is more common among girls than boys. Those dealing with chronic mental health struggles are also more likely to self harm, as are members of a sexuality or gender minority.

Question 5

What are the symptoms of self-harm?

Accepted Answer

Self-harm is itself often a symptom or result of other mental health issues or disorders, such as anxiety, depression, and trauma-related disorders. At times it can co-occur with eating disorders and substance use disorders, the symptoms of which can also manifest as forms of self-harm.

Depending on the form that the self-harm takes, there may be various warning signs associated with an individual's attempt to mask their behavior.

Question 6

Is self-harm related to suicide?

Accepted Answer

Self-harm can accompany or lead to suicidal ideation, or thoughts of ending your life. However, that is not always the case. Self-harm is generally a coping mechanism for working through pain, isolation, and other negative feelings. Speaking to a therapist can be helpful for working through the issues that may lead to self-harm, and learning less harmful tools for coping.

Self-harm that does not accompany suicidal ideation can be diagnosed as non-suicidal self-injury disorder.

If you’re experiencing suicidal ideation, you can and should reach out for support. If you feel you’re in an emergency situation, you can reach the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255.

What can parents and friends do to help someone who is self-harming?

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