Mental illness comes in many different shapes and forms and the majority of people will suffer from mental illness at some point in their life. One of the signs of mental illness is self harm, and this is something that does require urgent medical help if you or someone that you know does this.
Self harm is when a person harms themselves intentionally and it is something that they do to try to deal with feelings that they find difficult. This can be done in many ways, from scratching the skin to cutting or burning themselves. They may temporarily feel that this helps them in the short term but in the longer term it not only tends to worsen but also can have risks that come with it such as infections and also scarring of the body.
Getting help for self harm is important as it doesn’t usually go away on its own. A professional therapist will be able to help with the underlying causes of the behaviour and help the person to be able to find a better way to deal with the difficult feelings that are causing them to harm themselves in the first place.
It is good to have an understanding of mental health as this way you can help yourself as well as others around you. There are lots of resources online and also you can go on training courses like these mental health training courses https://www.tidaltraining.co.uk/mental-health-courses which many people find a valuable source of knowledge.
FAQ
What is self harm?
Self harm refers to the act of a person intentionally causing harm to themselves. This can be in the form of scratching the skin, cutting or even burning. It is considered a sign of mental illness and people who self harm need urgent medical help.
Why do people self harm?
Some people self harm to try to cope with difficult feelings and in the short term it may work to make them feel better. However, in the long term it can get worse. A therapist can work with a person who self harms to explore the underlying reasons for their behaviour and work with them to find some alternative ways of coping with their feelings. Self harm is not something that stops on its own and people who self harm need help.
Does self harm go away on its own?
For most people who self harm, it will worsen over time rather than decrease, and so the person and their loved ones will typically need to seek help from a trained therapist who can address the underlying reasons for their distress and teach new ways of coping with feelings that prompt self harm.
What are the risks of self harm?
Self harm can cause infections and lead to scarring. The short-term relief it brings is temporary, and the behaviour can even increase in severity over time. If you or someone you know is self harming then urgent medical help is required.