AKA cutting, hurting yourself, etc.

Self injury is something people do to damage their bodies. It can go on for years and is more common than most people realise. Self injury can take a number of forms including:

• cutting
• taking overdoses of tablets or medicines
• punching yourself
• throwing your body against something
• pulling out hair or eyelashes
• scratching, picking or tearing at one's skin causing sores and scarring
• burning
• inhaling or sniffing harmful substances
• risk-taking behaviour

Some young people self-harm on a regular basis while others do it just once or a few times. For some people it is part of coping with a specific problem and they stop once the problem is resolved.

A few people who self-harm may go on to commit suicide, but generally this is not what they intend to do. In fact, self-harm can be seen as the 'opposite' of suicide as it is often a way of coping with life rather than of giving up on it.

Help is available from people who understand this problem, many of them are survivors of self injury themsleves, also from your GP, counsellor, Youth Worker or through helplines.

• Key Link: www.selfharm.org.uk