Unbeknownst to me, March 1st marks International Self-Injury or Self-Harm Awareness Day. While I acknowledge that this blog post is being shared after the official date, it’s important to recognize that this topic warrants continuous attention and advocacy. This post aims to shed light on the prevalence of self-injury within our communities, and possibly even within our own homes. My goal is to educate you about what constitutes self-injury, its role in an individual’s life, potential triggers for self-harm, and how to seek assistance. Please continue reading as I provide a list of resources at the end of this blog, particularly if you require support. Additionally, I hope to address and challenge society’s unfounded biases and stigmatization towards this disorder.
It’s important for me to share a bit about myself and how I can speak firsthand about self-harm. It has deeply influenced my understanding and empathy towards individuals in distress. I’m an aspiring therapist, new to the field, but have always been an advocate for mental health. My background is in education, and currently, I work as a high school art teacher. I feel fortunate to work with a diverse group of students who express themselves through creative arts, allowing me to connect with them on a deeper level. In an environment that fosters self-exploration and expression, I’ve come to appreciate the most vulnerable aspects of my students. The artistic process often reveals emotional suffering and mental health concerns, allowing my students to openly share their struggles. While it’s not always obvious, I’ve observed instances of self-injury among some of my students. Evidence such as cuts on their arms or scabs from excessive picking becomes visible when sleeves are rolled up.
I had the responsibility to confront the visible wounds, first by talking to the student directly and then reaching out to the school counselor and psychologist. Once I was ensured of the student’s safety at home, I faced the challenging decision to reach out to the family. Although I acknowledge the discomfort involved in reaching out, both for myself and the individual struggling with self-injury, speaking up is crucial. I hope this story resonates with you and encourages you to find the courage to speak up for someone else in need. When the intention is sincere and compassionate, genuine change can be achieved.
If you are reading this as someone who struggles with self-harm, may you feel validated, supported, and hopeful for healing. For those of us who know someone facing these challenges or are simply curious, my hope is through your expanding awareness you find yourself inspired, even determined, to demonstrate greater love, compassion, and support for someone in need.
Self-injury is anything and everything a person can do to intentionally harm themselves. Here are some of the most common types of self-harm:
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Cutting
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Scratching
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Burning
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Carving words or symbols into the skin
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Hitting or punching oneself (including banging one’s head or other body parts against another surface)
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Piercing the skin with sharp objects such as hairpins
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Pulling out hair
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Picking at existing wounds
Potential Causes
Naturally, the question why, why would someone do this to themselves, arises. First, imagine someone in such emotional distress that the agony drives them to self-inflict harm upon their body. The intensity of that pain likely does not compare to the depth of internal emotional despair that person is experiencing. Reports indicate that initially, the act of self-harm brings the individual an immediate sense of calm and relief from the physical and emotional tension. However, this relief is short-lived, giving way to feelings of guilt, shame, and a resurgence of the original painful emotions. While self-injury is not carried out with the intent to die by suicide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) the inflictions of self-injury could be fatal. Furthermore, individuals who engage in self-harm are at a heightened risk of attempting or dying by suicide if they do not seek help. While some people may engage in self-harm a few times and then stop, others do it more often and have trouble stopping (SAMSHA, 2023). This cycle becomes increasingly challenging to break and often requires immediate medical attention and support.
If you, or someone you know, is engaging in self-harm behaviors, the following signs and symptoms, reported by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) are common identifiers and warning signs of self-harm.
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Scars
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Wearing long sleeves or pants, even in hot weather
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Talking about feeling worthless or helpless
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Fresh cuts, bruises, bite marks, or burns
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Keeping sharp objects on hand
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Frequent reports of accidental injury
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Emotional and behavioral instability and unpredictability
Unfortunately, there are many misconceptions about who exactly struggles with self-harm. It is all too common to associate this disorder with attention-seeking teens; however, that is not the case at all. These false beliefs are hurtful and harmful to the persons grappling with such afflictions, potentially deterring them from speaking up and seeking help. While it is accurate that self-harm is more common among females and typically begins in the teen or early adult years, self-harm is not exclusive to this demographic. Before I can offer guidance on accessing help, I believe it is crucial that we examine the most common biases associated with self-injury, as outlined in a recently published article on Psychology Today.
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People who self-injure are attention-seeking, immature, or even manipulative.
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People who self-injure want to die by suicide.
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Self-injury is really uncommon
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Only females and/or teenagers self-injure
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People who self-injure have Borderline Personality Disorder
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People who self-injure only cut themselves
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People who self-injure can stop if they want to
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People who self-injure are untreatable
Stigma around Self-Injury
By this point in the blog, I hope you are well aware that none of the beliefs listed above are remotely true. If you are still unsure, I highly encourage you to check out the resources listed below and further investigate for yourself. However, it’s important to note that in many countries, self-harm and suicide are still punishable by law. This creates an unsafe environment for individuals with personal experience to openly discuss their struggles and seek help. Such circumstances not only worsen their distress but also contribute to the ongoing stigma and diminish the autonomy of those dealing with mental health issues.
This does not mean we are passive bystanders; greater understanding and awareness regarding self-harm and self-injury is crucial in enabling individuals to seek support without fear of stigma. Collectively, we can provide a supportive environment where individuals feel heard and understood regarding their struggles or thoughts of self-harm.
Seeking Help
Here at F.L.O.W., we advocate and offer individual therapy for individuals struggling with a mental health crisis such as self-harm. If you or someone you know is inflicting self-injury, please don’t ignore it, no one should have to deal with this alone. Any form of self-injury indicates underlying stressors that require immediate attention.
Support
If you find yourself engaging in self-harm, whether it’s minor or if you’re experiencing thoughts of self-harm, don’t hesitate to seek assistance. Reach out to someone you feel comfortable confiding in—whether it’s a friend, family member, healthcare professional, spiritual advisor, or a trusted figure at your school. They can guide you through the initial stages of seeking effective treatment. Even if you’re feeling ashamed or embarrassed, remember that there are compassionate individuals out there who are ready to offer non-judgmental support and assistance.
March 2024
Author: Jocelyn V. Ulrich, M.A.
Resources
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In the U.S., call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Services are free and confidential.
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Or Crisis Lifeline chat at 988lifeline.org
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The Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the U.S. has a Spanish language phone line at 1-888-628-9454 (toll-free)
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Crisis Text Line – Free 24/7 support
Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a volunteer Crisis Counselor -
To locate treatment facilities or providers, visit FindTreatment.gov or call SAMHSA’s National Helpling at 800-662-HELP (4357).
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Call your mental health provider if you have one
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Reach out to a family member, friend or a supportive member in your community (teacher, nurse, pastor, etc.)
References
Fehling, K. (2024) 6 Myths About Self-Injury: Self-injury is not a rare problem limited to “attention-seeking” teen girls. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/building-a-life-worth-living/202403/6-myths-about-self-injury
International Association for Suicide Prevention (2023)
https://www.iasp.info/2023/03/01/self-injury-awareness-day/
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration(SAMHSA) (2023). Self-Harm https://www.samhsa.gov/mental-health/self-harm