Look for self harm signs

The aim of the Self Harm Awareness Day, held on March 1, is to educate people from all walks of life about this important issue so they can recognize the signs.

Last year the NSPCC’s Childline service delivered 15,376 counselling sessions about self-harm to children and young people across the country, making it one of the most common reasons they contact the service for support.

Self-harm is often a way for young people to release overwhelming emotions. It’s a way of coping.

It can take lots of physical forms, including cutting, burning, bruising, scratching, hair-pulling, poisoning and overdosing.

That’s why it’s so important to spot it as soon as possible and do everything you can to help.

Spotting the signs can be hard as young people often go to great lengths to hide their injuries.

They may try to explain them away as accidents or keep themselves covered up in long-sleeved clothes even when it is really hot.

The common physical signs to look for include injuries to the head, wrists, arms, thighs and chest.

The emotional signs are harder to spot and do not necessarily mean that a young person is self-harming.

They include depression; tearfulness and low motivation; becoming withdrawn and isolated; unusual eating habits; low self-esteem and self-blame, drinking or taking drugs.

If you see any of these as well as any of the physical signs then there may be cause for concern.

If you suspect a child or young person is self-harming, or considering it, there are things you can do.

Listen and show empathy and understanding; talk it over to try to discover their self-harm triggers; build their confidence and show they can trust you; help them find new ways to cope.

Advice and support about self harming is available via the NSPCC’s helpline on 0808 800 5000.

Children can call Childline on 0800 1111, 24 hours a day, seven days a week or visit www.childline.org.uk to chat online.

Pat Buckley,

NSPCC Service Centre Manager, Newcastle