Self Harm Awareness Month
When negative emotions build up and are released in ways that are damaging or dangerous to the individuals feeling these emotions, this is called self-harm. Self harm is often used as a coping mechanism for when a person is experiencing poor mental health. There are different methods which an individual may use to harm themselves including cutting, burning, hitting, scratching, or picking at your skin. Scarring or proof of self harm does not make the suffering any less valid. Many individuals may feel a sense of shame or embarrassment about old scars, and those with newer scars may be scared to show them. Sometimes, when an individual begins to self harm, it may become like a habit and difficult to stop. It is common for self-harm to be a means of coping with inarticulable emotions that they are either too scared to express or uncertain of how to process. While individuals may not want their scars to be seen, the physical aspect of hurting and scarring the skin may be a manifestation of a desire for validation and acknowledgment.
Self harm often starts young. The average age of the first incident of self harm is 13 years old. About 17% of people will self-harm in their lifetime. Women are more likely to self-harm than men, though men are less likely to report it. In 2023, 54% of LGBTQIA+ youth reported self-harming in the past years, with 72% of transgender boys reporting having self-harmed. Not all self-harm is done with the intention of suicide. This is called NSSI (non suicidal self injury). However, there is a strong positive correlation between self-harm actions and suicide rates. People who have engaged in 20 or more self-harm actions are 3.5 times more likely to attempt suicide. NSSB (non suicidal self-harm behavior) is linked to what is referred to as “psychosocial vulnerabilities”. Some examples include anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, strained relationships, etc.
If you feel the urge to self harm, there are different ways to ask for help. You can utilize the suicide hotline, 988, or reach out to your doctor who can direct you to counseling options. If you are concerned about a friend or loved one self-harming, approach the topic carefully. Self harm is most commonly inflicted on the arms, thighs, wrists, or abdomen. Patterned scars, fresh wound marks, unexpected emotional changes, and/or wearing long clothing even in hot weather all may be indicators of self-harm. However, do not accuse, incriminate, or blame the situation on anyone. The best course of action is to express concern and possibly redirect the person to receive care for their wounds and seek counseling.
