Self Harm

• Definition
  Self-harm is when you hurt yourself as a way of dealing with very difficult feelings.
  
  Self-harm can also mean putting yourself in risky situations or not looking after your physical or emotional need.
  
  Self-harming can be very dangerous. If it gets out of hand you could accidentally kill yourself.
• Signs
  Cutting yourself
  Burning yourself
  inserting objects into your body
  hitting yourself or walls
  Overdosing
  Exercising excessively
  Scratching and pulling hair
  Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol
  Taking drugs
  Over-eating or under eating
  Swallowing poisons or inappropriate objects
  
• Advice
  Identify what emotion triggers your self-harm and look for suitable alternatives
  
  Feeling alone or isolated?
  Try: talking to someone, writing down how you feel, walking the dog, wrapping a blanket around yourself, meeting up with a friend, or doing some exercise.
  
  Feeling angry?
  Try: punching something like a pillow, doing some exercise, running, screwing up paper and throwing it, snapping twigs, squeezing clay, hitting a rolled up newspaper on a door frame, screaming, crying, or having a cold shower.
  
  Feel like you hate yourself or that you’re not good enough (low self-esteem)?
  Try: listening to music, having a bath, burning incense, phoning a friend, writing, painting, or listing good things about yourself.
  
  Feel like you can’t control things in your life?
  Try: organising something, cleaning or tidying, solving a puzzle, setting a target time (for example, saying you won’t harm for 15 minutes, and then if you can last, try another 15 minutes).
  
  Feel numb or like a ‘zombie’?
  Try: focusing on something like breathing, being around people who make you feel good, craft activities, making a photo collage, playing an instrument, baking, playing computer games.
  
  Feel like you want to escape from your life or a difficult situation?
  Try: having a hot or cold shower, drawing on your body with red pen, massaging lotion into the places you would normally harm, squeezing ice cubes or biting on lemon for the “shock factor,” or painting nails.
  
  Talk to someone you trust, a friend, an adult, a teacher, GP or counsellor
• Where can i get help?
  In school you can talk to the following people:
  A friend
  Your Tutor
  A YHS Wellbeing Advisor
  Pupil Welfare Officer
  Pastoral Mentor (Drop in sessions Tuesday & Wednesday during break and lunchtime)
  
  In the community:
  Talk to your parents or GP
  
  Telephone
  Childline (Free) 0800 1111
  York Mind 01904 643364
  Samaritans 116 123
  
  Links:
  Childline
  Young Minds
  Mind
  Calm Harm