What is non-suicidal self-harm?

Non-suicidal self-injury means that a person injures themself on purpose. For example, they may cut, scratch, or bite their skin until it bleeds. Self-injury is serious. So it’s important to seek help from a health professional. People who self-injure don’t do it to die. But some may also be thinking about suicide.

Signs that a person might be self-injuring include:

• Injuries that seem unusual. For instance, there may be multiple cuts or deep scratches on the arms, legs, or stomach.
• Odd blood stains on their clothes.
• Bandages on their arms. The person may wear these to hide injuries.
• Long sleeves when it’s hot.
• Not doing activities that require less clothing (swimming, gym class).
• Lots of bracelets, wristbands, or other jewelry on large areas of their arms. These may be worn to hide injuries.

If you or someone you know is self-injuring, talk to a doctor or a mental health professional.

To assess, the doctor may ask how often the injuries happen and if they bleed, bruise, or cause pain. And the doctor may ask how self-injuring makes your child feel. The doctor also may ask questions to find out if your child has other health conditions, like depression.

Self-injury is treated with counseling. Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) are common types of counseling for self-injury. Medicines are sometimes used with counseling. Ask your doctor about the different types of treatment. Then you can decide together about what might work best.

First, find a counselor that you trust. Then work together to make a plan to keep you safe. A counselor can help you find healthy ways to manage emotions. For example, you may learn that deep breathing calms you. Try joining a support group. Consider asking for support from trusted friends and family members.