Self Harm / Self-injurious Behaviour
Self-harm is an intentional self-harm event like self-cutting, self-burning, or self-poisoning irrespective of apparent purpose.
Globally, at least 14 million incidents are recorded each year.
This figure is underestimated according to experts due to the lack of proper surveillance systems especially in low-middle-income countries.
International surveys suggest a higher lifetime prevalence of self-harm in adolescents compared to the adult population.
1 in 6 adolescents indulge in self-harm acts.
Also around 16 % report repetition of self-harm within one year.
Self-harm is seen in persons suffering from depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorders, substance use disorder, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, personality disorder, delusional disorder, etc.
Triggering Factors of self-harm:
- Distressing emotions
- Helpless, worthless and feeling of guilt
- The feeling of the burden on others
- Overwhelming negative emotions
- The feeling of shame & embarrassment
- Anger & rage due to bottled-up emotions
- Lack of support
- Lack of self-control
- Unable to express
- Feeling of isolation
- Bullying
- School/work difficulties
- Relationship problems
Strategies to deal with self-harm - Self-soothing
- Self-care
- Self-compassion
- Distraction
- Connectedness
- Changes in environment
- Taking the help of a mental health professional.
