Self-Harm

What is it?

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• **Trigger Warning This article contains information that may upset sensitive readers. The following article about self-harming and should not be read by those who find this subject upsetting.***

Harming oneself is an all-too-common symptom of a larger mental health problem that can lead to dying prematurely by suicide if left untreated. Hurting one’s own body may seem extreme, but to those who do it, self-harm seems to be the only recourse they have.

In this article, we shall begin a series on self-harm and examine the signs that you or someone you care about are self-harming and what to do about it.

The Definition of Self-Harm

Self-harm, also known as self-injury, happens when a person becomes overwhelmed and deliberately hurts their own body. The injuries inflicted on oneself can be anywhere from minor cuts to severe injuries that are life-threatening.

There as many methods to self-harm as there are people who do it, but below are a few examples:

· Pulling out your hair

· Punching oneself

· Punching a wall to injure oneself

· Cutting oneself

· Bruising oneself