What is self harm
There are no fixed rules about why people self-harm. For some people, it can be linked to specific experiences and be a way of dealing with something that is happening now or that happened in the past.
Some people don’t understand the reasons for self-harming and that’s OK. You don’t need to know this in order to ask for help.
Difficult experiences can cause someone to self-harm. Common causes include:
- Bullying
- Sexual, physical or emotional abuse
- Relationships
- School and exams
- Divorce
- Bereavement
- Illness
- Domestic abuse
- Confusion about feelings and sexuality.
Visit Childline or the NHS website for help and advice if you or someone you know is self-harming.