Sometimes people deal with emotional distress and pain by hurting themselves physically.
Why do people self-harm?
Self-harm is where people physically hurt themselves. This is usually with behaviours that cause injury but can also include the use of alcohol, drugs and food.
This is usually an attempt to find some relief from emotional distress – the person focuses on the physical pain rather than their distressing thoughts. It can also be a way of telling others that the person needs some help.
What to do if someone is self-harming
Self-harm can be highly distressing for the friends and family of the person, as well as the person themselves.
If you or someone you know is harming themselves, we strongly encourage you to seek professional help. A professional can help someone to understand what is causing their distress, and help them to develop alternate strategies to support them.
In an emergency, call 000
If you are in an emergency situation where you are worried about your safety or someone else's, call 000 for an immediate response.
If you need to talk, contact Lifeline, SuicideLine or Beyond Blue.