Myths Around Self-Harm

Self injury is attempted suicide. It is usually a way of coping and carrying on living not dying.

It is attention seeking. Self-injury is primarily about helping oneself to cope with great pain. For some it is a desperate attempt to show something is wrong and attention should be paid to that problem.

The self-injurer is manipulative. Self-harm is a private thing. Accident and emergency only see a few people that harm. It is not about other people therefore is not a tool for manipulation.

It is a sign of madness. It is a sign of sadness not madness. It is someone trying to cope with their life the best way that they can at that moment.

A person who self-injures is a danger to others. A person who self-injures is directing the hurt and anger onto themselves not others.